Educational Actions to Raise Student Awareness About the Donation and Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues

Background: In Brazil, family refusal to donate organs and tissues is the main reason for not performing transplants, making it necessary to implement different educational strategies in diverse populations on this topic. Thus, this study aimed to raise awareness among school-aged adolescents about the method of organ and tissue donation and transplantation.

Methods: This is a descriptive experience report with a quantitative and qualitative approach to educational actions in the school environment, mediated by the action research method, carried out with 936 students aged between 14 and 18 years from public schools in the interior of Sao Paulo, Brazil. These actions were developed according to the themes identified and worked on through the culture circle, using active methodologies. Two semistructured questionnaires were applied, pre- and postinterventions. For analysis, sample normality tests and Student's t test were used (P < .0001).

Results: The topics identified were as follows: clarifications on the legislative history of donation and transplants; diagnosis of brain and circulatory death; bioethical aspects of transplants; reflections on mourning, death, and dying; maintenance and notification of the potential donor; types of viable organs and tissues for donation; and the process from collection to transplantation, among others. Comparative analysis showed statistical differences between pre- and postinterventions.

Conclusions: Educational interventions through active methodologies are presented as tools capable of making students aware of organ and tissue donation and transplantation.