Exploring Perspectives on Kidney Donation: Medical and Non-Medical Students in Croatia

<b>Background/Objectives:</b> Kidney donation remains a critical component of addressing end-stage renal disease. This study examines differences in awareness, willingness to donate, and concerns related to kidney donation among medical and non-medical university students. By comparing these groups within the context of Croatia's presumed-consent system for organ donation, the study provides insights into how educational backgrounds shape attitudes in a setting with high transplantation rates but limited data on young adults. <b>Methods:</b> A cross-sectional observational study targeted at medical and non-medical university students in Croatia. Data were collected from 640 participants via a self-administered, close-ended, structured questionnaire with 33 items divided across three sections. Responses were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics program (v. 30.0), to identify significant differences. Due to the cross-sectional design, causal relationships could not be inferred. <b>Results:</b> Overall, 190 students (28.7%) reported willingness to donate a kidney during their lifetime, which was more common among medical students (<i>N</i> = 59; 39.0%) than non-medical students (<i>N</i> = 131; 26.8%). Collectively, willingness to donate postmortem was high in both groups (<i>N</i> = 527; 82.3%), as was willingness in a brain-dead state (<i>N</i> = 448; 70.0%). Medical and non-medical students mostly cited perceived health risks as a concern and concerns related to surgical complications. Regarding information sources, 33.2% of students reported inadequate knowledge of kidney donation, with social media and internet searches cited more frequently than healthcare professionals. <b>Conclusions:</b> Our findings indicate that medical and non-medical students exhibit distinct gaps in knowledge, risk perception and willingness toward kidney donation. Within Croatia's presumed-consent framework, these findings highlight the importance of targeted educational strategies to support informed decision-making among future generations.