A Questionnaire Survey of Attitudes About Cancer Disclosure, Brain Death, and Organ Transplantation Among Fifth-Year Medical Students / 医学教育

ABSTRACT

We conducted a questionnaire survey of attitudes about cancer disclosure, brain death, and organ transplantation among fifth-year medical students at Nagoya University from 2001 through 2003. Their attitudes about these topics did not change markedly during the period. Most students favored receiving information about their own diagnosis of cancer, but significantly fewer students favored informing their parents about their diagnosis. Students did not have a strong interest in brain death or organ transplantation. Less than 30% of students possessed donor cards. This survey indicates that attitudes about cancer disclosure, brain death, and organ transplantation among Japanese medical students remain different from those among Western medical students. Instruction designed to address these differences may be beneficial.