Eye Donation’ in Medical Students’ Perspective

ABSTRACT

Aims: To compare the level of awareness and willingness of eye donation between first and last year medical students of Karachi, Pakistan. Methodology: A total of 1010 medical students were selected from 4 different medical universities of Karachi through random sampling of which 524 (52%) were first year students and 486 (48%) were final year students. Cross sectional study design was conducted to access their perception towards eye donation. For this a self-administered semi structured questionnaire was used which covered individual’s awareness, willingness, source of information and compelling factors for eye donation. Results: 522 out of 524 first year (99.6 %) and 486 out of 486 final year (100%) medical students were well aware of eye donation. Willingness to donate eyes after death was seen in only 151/524 (28.8 %) first year students and 217/486 (44.6%) last year students. Most common source of information for first year students regarding eye donation was through mass media, TV and radio 320/524 (61%) however for the last year students it was through exposure in hospitals and information by medical specialist 311/486 (64%). Lastly humanitarian grounds was considered most common promoting factor for eye donation by both first (368/524 (70.2%)) and last (359/486 (73.8%)) year students.  Conclusion: Awareness of eye donation was found high among both year of students despite this fact very less number of students were willing to donate eyes. This reflects that having awareness of eye donation isn’t enough thus measures should be taken to promote students to donate eyes by encouraging them to help the needy, inciting them with religious benefits and clearing any misconceptions about religion and ethical issues in this regard.