Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39725998›Full record

ArticleBMC medical education2024

Attitudes of Slovenian students towards whole-body donation, organ donation, and the use of donated bodies in medical education.

Žiga Šink, Gašper Tonin, Nejc Umek, Erika Cvetko

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC medical education, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Žiga Šink *Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Korytkova Ulica 2, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia. ziga.sink@mf.uni-lj.si.
Gašper Tonin *Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Korytkova Ulica 2, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Nejc UmekInstitute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Korytkova Ulica 2, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Erika CvetkoInstitute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Korytkova Ulica 2, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAnatomical dissection of whole bodies donated for teaching and research purposes remains a cornerstone of medical education. However, evolving sociocultural and ethical landscapes have historically influenced this practice, necessitating ongoing research to inform and enhance donation programs. This study examines the Slovenian students' attitudes and factors influencing their decision-making regarding body and organ donation for medical education. MATERIALS AND

methodsAn anonymous cross-sectional cohort study was conducted at the University of Ljubljana using a 28-item questionnaire to assess student attitudes toward post-mortem whole-body and organ donation, as well as their perceptions of anatomical dissection in medical training and research. A five-point Likert scale was employed to evaluate attitudinal responses and identify underlying influencing factors.

resultsAnalysis of 1528 student responses revealed significant differences in attitudes toward body and organ donation based on religious affiliation and anatomy course completion. Catholic students exhibited statistically lower levels of support and registration for donation compared to agnostic and atheist students (p < 0.001). A willingness to donate their bodies for teaching and research purposes was reported by 33.1% of participants. Notably, 26.3% would recommend whole-body donation to a family member, 27.9% to a friend, and 31.8% to a member of the general public. Students who had completed an anatomy course demonstrated a significantly higher likelihood of registering for organ donation (p = 0.003), yet were less inclined to donate their bodies for teaching and research due to concerns regarding the treatment of donated bodies.

conclusionDespite general support for organ and body donation, registration rates among Slovenian students remain low, including among those exposed to anatomy courses. We propose integrating end-of-life education, humanistic perspectives, and donor commemorative ceremonies into medical curricula to foster trust, ethical awareness, and advocacy for donation.

Indexed as

Students, MedicalTissue and Organ ProcurementAdultAnatomyAttitude of Health PersonnelCadaverCross-Sectional StudiesEducation, Medical, UndergraduateFemaleHumansMaleSloveniaSurveys and QuestionnairesYoung AdultAnatomical dissectionAnatomy educationAttitudeBody donationMedical educationMedical ethicsOrgan donationSloveniaStudents

Identifiers

PMID39725998
PMCPMC11674541

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.