A Study To Assess The Effectiveness of Self-Instructional Module on Knowledge About Organ Donation Among The College Students At Selected Arts and Science College, Bangalore

‘‘Death is not the end, its beginning of another life’’ Marianne Williamson Life starts from birth and end with the death of the individual. In between the birth and death there are different stages of life, where a person faces different diseases and its problems. Organ donation is the gracious act. It firmly believes that the organ is use of others and death is not the end, and it is another beginning. Organ is a structural part of a system of the body that is composed of tissues and cells that enable it to perform a particular function. In case, any of the organs of the human body fails to carry out its normal function, it needs surgical replacement of the organ by organ transplantation. For some organs, the donation can be given while the healthy person is alive, in other cases, the donation is made after death.1 Organ donation is done by both living and deceased donors. The living donors can donate one of the two kidneys, a lung or a part of a lung, one of the two lobes of their liver, a part of the intestines or a part of the pancreas. In case of the deceased donors, it is first verified that the donor is dead. The verification of death is usually done multiple times by a neurologist. After death, the body is kept on a mechanical ventilator to ensure the organs remain in good condition. Most organs work outside the body only for a couple of hours and thus it is ensured that they reach the recipient immediately after removal. While a deceased donor can donate liver, kidneys, lungs, intestines, pancreas, cornea tissue, skin tissue, tendons and heart valves.2 The process of organ donation varies from country to country. The process has broadly been classified into two categories – Opt in and Opt out. Under the opt-in system, n an opt-out system, a person is automatically presumed to have given their consent to be a donor before their death unless they had made a specific request not to donate their organs. So, organs may be taken unless people have registered an objection not to be donor, or their family members (next of kin) object. This is known as a “soft opt-out”. Anyone who wishes to donate organs needs to fill a prescribed form available on the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Government of India’s website.3 In order to control organ commerce and encourage donation after brain death, the government of India came up with the law, The Transplantation of Human Organs Act in the year 1994. This brought about a considerable change in terms of organ donation in the country.4 Historically, organ donation has been looked upon as a compassionate and charitable act. The most frequently transplanted parts are corneas, long bones (arms, legs), heart valves, and skin. The medical advancement and technology has begun to save lives and the most miraculous achievement of modern medicine is organ transplantation which has the power to save the lives of the clients. The most common reason for shortage of organs is that people hesitate to donate organs. The field of organ donation and transplantation has the power to save millions of lives if there is adequate availability of organs. Organ Donation is the only area in all of health care that cannot exist without the participation of the public. The demand for human organs is increasing day by day despite the supporting efforts of governments and health agencies. Organ Donation from deceased persons has been performed since 1964. Since then, there is chronic shortage for organs and inadequate awareness about deceased organ donation. Approximately every 10 minutes; someone is added to the national waiting list for organ transplant. In 1994, NOTTO which allows organ donation, legalized the concept of 'brain death' as a criterion for organ donation.5 According to the law, the privilege or right on the decision of organ donation rests with the next of kin of the deceased person. Organ donations are taken from two sources according to the act, deceased and living donors. Most organs used currently used from deceased donors, and the majority of the living donors are typically a family member of the recipient. The shortage of organs for donation is a growing problem. The discrepancy between organ availability and clinical needs, results in an excess of deaths; it leads to long waiting-lists and increased morbidity and health-care costs. Opposition to organ donation is a significant problem. Everyone rather should come forward and realize how this conscientious effort can leave a great positive impact on our society.6 So is it not everyone’s duty as a human being to allow their organs to be donated after their death. Different programmes have been developed to tackle the problem of this organ-donor shortage. Educational programmes, mass campaigns may play an important role in decreasing the opposition and can promote positive awareness about organ donation. College students are considered very important targets in educational campaigns, also because of indirect family involvement.