Perception, Knowledge and Attitudes About Organ Donation in Nursing Students at the University of Málaga

BACKGROUND: Organ transplants are currently the most effective treatment for end-stage organ failure and are sometimes the only option. They can affect the life expectancy of patients who depend on treatments that seriously compromise their quality of life. Various studies have been conducted to ascertain opinions, perceptions and attitudes toward organ donation among different sectors of society, including healthcare professionals. It was therefore deemed appropriate to extend these questions to undergraduate students, who will soon be responsible for these tasks. METHOD: This exploratory qualitative study was conducted with 120s-year nursing students who participated from a cohort of 152 students enrolled in Adult Nursing I at the University of Málaga. Twelve focus groups were conducted after a specific seminar on organ donation. The study therefore explored students' postseminar perceptions, knowledge, and attitudes toward organ donation. Transcripts were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. RESULTS: The results revealed a significant perceived knowledge gap regarding the donation process, despite participants expressing positive attitudes toward donation. Most students considered that training on this subject was insufficient within the university curriculum and requested more formal, practical education on organ donation and transplantation. Generosity, solidarity, and the idea of leaving a legacy emerged as key motivations for donating. Gender-related perceptions were also identified, particularly the view that women may be more willing to donate during life. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that organ donation education could strengthen nursing students' preparedness and may inform future educational interventions; however, effects on family refusal rates or transplant-system outcomes should be examined in subsequent studies rather than inferred directly from this exploratory qualitative work. PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: No formal patient or public involvement was undertaken in the design, conduct, analysis, or reporting of this study. Nursing students participated solely as research participants in the focus groups, not as formal patient or public contributors. Their perspectives, however, provide relevant insight into how future nurses perceive organ donation, the educational gaps they identify, and the type of training they consider necessary to support future clinical nursing practice, particularly in communication with patients and families, health education, and professional involvement in the organ donation process.