What the study found
Educational and communicative strategies were associated with improvements in university students’ knowledge, attitudes, and willingness toward organ donation and transplantation (ODT, organ donation and transplantation).
Why the authors say this matters
The authors say ODT is an essential strategy for end-stage organ failure, but donation rates remain insufficient and young people have information gaps. The study suggests that finding effective ways to promote ODT among university students may help address these gaps.
What the researchers tested
The researchers conducted a systematic review following PRISMA guidelines and searched Scopus, Clarivate Web of Science, and PubMed up to November 2025. They included studies on university-student interventions that reported willingness to donate, attitudes, knowledge, family communication, and perceptions of the intervention.
What worked and what didn't
Out of 330 records, 16 studies met the inclusion criteria. Ten intervention types were identified, including educational programs, single lectures, social media campaigns, peer-to-peer initiatives, peer learning, celebrity endorsers, humorous communication, informational materials, and non-monetary merit point systems. Most studies reported increases in knowledge (8/16), willingness to donate (9/16), and positive attitudes (6/16); the abstract also notes limited use of emerging technologies.
What to keep in mind
The abstract does not provide detailed limitations for individual studies, but it does say the evidence would benefit from more rigorous, innovative, and long-term evaluations. The review is limited to the studies that met its inclusion criteria and the outcomes listed in the abstract.
Key points
- The review found that educational and communication strategies were linked to better knowledge, attitudes, and willingness toward ODT among university students.
- Sixteen studies met the review’s inclusion criteria out of 330 records identified.
- Interventions included educational programs, lectures, social media campaigns, peer-based approaches, celebrity endorsers, humorous communication, informational materials, and merit point systems.
- Most studies reported improved knowledge, willingness to donate, and positive attitudes.
- The abstract says emerging technologies were used only limitedly and calls for more rigorous, innovative, long-term evaluations.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Student-focused interventions improved organ donation attitudes
- Authors:
- Trilce Ahtziri Dávila-Navarrete, Ricardo Salazar, Yanik Ixchel Maldonado-Astudillo, Rayma Ireri Maldonado-Astudillo, Antonio Alarcón-Paredes
- Institutions:
- Universidad Autónoma de Guerrero, Instituto Politécnico Nacional
- Publication date:
- 2026-02-23
- OpenAlex record:
- View
- Image credit:
- Photo by Rahul Sapra on Pexels · Pexels License
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