Do Spanish Medical Students Understand the Concept of Brain Death?

• Published in: Progress in transplantation (Aliso Viejo, Calif.) Calif.), 2018-03, Vol.28 (1), p.77-82
• Main Authors: Ríos, Antonio, López-Navas, A., López-López, A., Gómez, F. J., Iriarte, J., Herruzo, R., Blanco, G., Llorca, F. J., Asunsolo, A., Sánchez, P., Gutiérrez, P. R., Fernández, A., de Jesús, M. T., Alarcón, L. Martínez, del Olivo, M., Fuentes, L., Hernández, J. R., Virseda, J., Yelamos, J., Bondía, J. A., Hernández, A. M., Ayala, M. A., Ramírez, P., Parrilla, P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1526-9248; 2164-6708
• DOI: 10.1177/1526924817746687

Objective: To analyze the level of understanding of the brain death concept among medical students in universities in Spain. Methods: This cross-sectional sociological, interdisciplinary, and multicenter study was performed on 9598 medical students in Spain. The sample was stratified by geographical area and academic year. A previously validated self-reported measure of brain death knowledge (questionnaire Proyecto Colaborativo Internacional Donante sobre la Donación y Transplante de Organos) was completed anonymously by students. Results: Respondents completed 9275 surveys for a completion rate of 95.7%. Of those, 67% (n = 6190) of the respondents understood the brain death concept. Of the rest, 28% (n = 2652) did not know what it meant, and the remaining 5% (n = 433) believed that it did not mean that the patient was dead. The variables related to a correct understanding of the concept were: (1) being older (P < .001), (2) studying at a public university (P < .001), (3) year of medical school (P < .001), (4) studying at one of the universities in the south of Spain (P = .003), (5) having discussed donation and transplantation with the family (P < .001), (6) having spoken to friends about the matter (P < .001), (7) a partner’s favorable attitude toward donation and transplantation (P < .001), and (8) religious beliefs (P < .001). Conclusions: Sixty-seven percent of medical students know the concept of brain death, and knowledge improved as they advanced in their degree.