Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the awareness of kidney donation, study attitudes, and beliefs with regard to kidney donation as well as to compare the knowledge between different levels among medical students at King Faisal University in Al-Ahsa, Eastern province of Saudi Arabia.
Methods: A cross-sectional study using an online questionnaire was distributed throughout social media web sites and applications. The data were collected from medical students from all levels at King Faisal University.
Results: Around 261 participants had an idea about organ donation, of which 63% were willing to donate a kidney and 83% were ready to educate the people about it. Over 50% had the wrong idea about kidney donation and its effects on the donor. Gender and marital status did not significantly (p > 0.05) affect the knowledge and awareness of kidney donation. Most participants got information about kidney donation from education and lectures, followed by social media. Most participants believed that kidney donation’s main cause was to save someone’s life. Most participants believed that health education and media are important tools to increase the number of donors.
Conclusion: The medical curriculum should increase students’ awareness about the kidney shortage problem in Saudi Arabia. Intensive efforts should be provided to raise the knowledge among medical students to inform the people about it.

Key words: Kidney donation, knowledge, awareness, medical students, Saudi Arabia