Using digitalization for knowledge transfer in society is the future of transplantation: A pilot study
Beata Januszko‐Giergielewicz, Aleksandra Woderska, Agata Wójcik-Kula, Paweł Niewiadomski, Maciej Słupski · Renal Disease and Transplantation Forum · 2023
Introduction: Recently, knowledge about transplantation among the general public has diminished. The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened this transplantation-related crisis, but has simultaneously contributed to the greater development of online education. The aim of the study was the assessment of the level of general public knowledge regarding transplantation and suggesting new possibilities of utilizing digital forms of information transfer in the process of societal transplant education (STE). Material and methods: An online survey questionnaire, containing questions related to common transplantation knowledge, was conducted among students of faculties of medicine. Results: Nearly the entire study group indicated that increasing knowledge as regards organ transplantation may prove to have a significant impact with respect to donating organs after death for transplantation. The study revealed that over 60% of respondents held a false belief that a declaration of intent was a legally binding document rather than only a declaration of will. Over 20% of respondents erroneously believed that the donor’s family had the right to object to organ procurement for transplantation. Facebook, websites for patients and applications were indicated as effective forms of STE. Having obtained the results, the first Polish prototype of an “e-transplant” application was designed for the purposes of STE. Conclusions: The level of knowledge concerning organ donation for transplantation is insufficient among the general public and necessitates the development of modern STE methods. All forms of information transfer in the virtual media space become particularly useful for the purposes of STE, including the created application.