A Study on Attitudes and Practices of Voluntary Body Donation among Medical Personnel of a Medical College: Evidence from North India

Background: Voluntary body donation has become an important source of cadavers for anatomical Study and medical education. Therefore this study is planned to assess the attitude and practice regarding voluntary body donation of medical personnel’s working in a medical Institute in India. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted at S.M.S Medical College and Attached Hospital Jaipur India under the supervision of Community Medicine Department of S.M.S Medical College, Jaipur, Among medical personnels. Data was collected from consenting individuals in the age group of 21–60 years by proportion to size sampling method. A Pre designed semi structured questionnaire designed to assess attitude and practice regarding whole body donation was provided to study population (n=500, 126 were Doctors and 374 were paramedical staff) and they were asked to fill all questions by their best of understanding within half an hour Results: Majorities of participants were from 31-40 age group. 68.2% of respondents were willing to donate their body for medical education among them only 0.8% of the study participants had already registered for body donation. Younger participants (21-30 years) had a positive attitude (58.11%) as compared age groups above then 30 years (P<0.001). Regarding association of this attitude with place of residence it was found that rural population (53.38%) have more positive attitude then urban population (32.95%), (P<0.001). Conclusion: The present study which analysed the attitude and practice on Body donation among medical personnels has been identified that there is a considerable difference in their attitude and practice on voluntary body donation. This will create awareness among medical professionals about their responsibility and gratitude toward society