The impact of information and communications technology and broadcasting on YouTube for improving attitude toward organ donation in secondary education with the creation of short films

Abstract

Objective: There is a lack of awareness about organ donation among teenagers, a fact that could decrease future donation rates. The objective is to analyze the impact of an educational proposal based on the creation of short films.

Methods: Fifteen schools were randomly selected: ten for the experimental group (EG), and five for the control group (CG). In both groups all students from the selected classes participated (EG: n = 543, CG: n = 320). An intervention was undertaken in the EG, providing a website to make a short film about organ donation and transplantation (ODT) to be broadcast on YouTube. The students completed a questionnaire before and after the proposal.

Statistics: Mann-Whitney test was conducted to compare the pre-test data, McNemar test compare the pre and post test results of each group, and Chi-square test to compare the change in responses between the two groups.

Results: The change to a more favorable response was greater in the EG in all variables. The YouTube channel received 104,912 viewings.

Conclusions: An innovative educational intervention has a positive influence on teenage attitude and knowledge about ODT; it also has important social repercussions.

Practice implications: Implementing this educational proposal about ODT could help improve future donation rates.

Keywords: Educational proposal; Media literacy; Organ donation; Teenagers; Transplant; YouTube.