A Study on the Attitudes of Nursing Students as Regards Cadaver Donation and Change of Cadaver Donation Intention after Attending Cadaver Anatomy Program

Abstract

Background/Objectives: This study was performed to investigate the nursing students attitude as regards cadaver donation and change of intention in cadaver donation after participation in cadaver anatomy program, and then to present basic data to spread a healthy culture of cadaver donation.

Methods/Statistical analysis: A survey was conducted for 80 first-year nursing students in Korea. The questionnaire for the attitude as regards the cadaver donation was made up of 12 items on a 5 Likert scale. Attitude were collected before attending the cadaver program and intention were collected before and after. For the analysis of data, one-way ANOVA, and independent t-test were used.

Findings: This study showed that attitude as regards cadaver donation had a significant difference according to religion(p<.001). The attitude score was 3.33 points. The rate of positive intention in cadaver donation before attending the cadaver program was 12.5%.  The rate of change of intention after participation in cadaver program was 30%. Among them, 62.5% changed negatively than the original intention and 37.5% changed positively than the original intention.

Improvements/Applications: Efforts are needed to spread positive awareness through educational programs that nursing students can improve their knowledge and understanding about cadaver donation before attending the anatomy practice using cadaver.