Willingness toward organ and body donation among anatomy professors and students in Mexico

Anat Sci Educ. 2017 Nov;10(6):589-597. doi: 10.1002/ase.1705. Epub 2017 Jun 2.

Abstract

Most anatomists agree that cadaver dissection serves as a superior teaching tool in human anatomy education. However, attitudes toward body donation vary widely between different individuals. A questionnaire was developed to determine the attitudes toward body and organ donation among those who learn the most from cadavers: medical students, medical student teaching assistants, medical students involved in research, and anatomy professors. A cross-sectional, prospective study was designed in which the questionnaire was distributed among first-year human anatomy students before undertaking cadaver dissection at the beginning of the semester, and then again after a commemoration service at the end of the course. The questionnaire items included demographic data, as well as questions designed to characterize participants' attitudes regarding body/organ donation from strangers, family members, and whether participants would consider such practices with their own bodies. Out of a total of 517 students enrolled in the Human Anatomy course in the Medical School at the Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Mexico during January to June 2016, 95% responded to the first (491) and second (490) surveys. Participants' opinions on their own organ donation was similar before and after exposure to cadaver dissection, with between 87% and 81% in favor of such practices, and only 3% against it, in both surveys. Participants' willingness to donate their own bodies, as well as those of family members, increased, while reluctance regarding such practices decreased by half (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.05). Professors had the highest rates of positive opinions regarding their own body donation (74.9%), with 18.8% undecided. Low opposition toward organ and body donation remains prevalent among both anatomists and physicians in training in Mexico. Anat Sci Educ 10: 589-597. © 2017 American Association of Anatomists.

Keywords: bequest programs; body donation; cadaver dissection; gross anatomy education; medical education; organ donation; students and faculty attitude; teaching methods.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Altruism*
  • Anatomists / psychology*
  • Anatomists / statistics & numerical data
  • Anatomy / education
  • Cadaver
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Dissection
  • Education, Medical, Undergraduate / methods
  • Faculty, Medical / psychology*
  • Faculty, Medical / statistics & numerical data
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mexico
  • Prospective Studies
  • Schools, Medical / statistics & numerical data
  • Students, Medical / psychology*
  • Students, Medical / statistics & numerical data
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Tissue and Organ Procurement / statistics & numerical data*
  • Young Adult