Blood donation among medical students: Knowledge, Attitude and Practices

Abstract

Introduction The healthy, active and receptive huge student population is potential blood donors to meet safe blood requirements. However, there is a paucity of studies on awareness and attitude among medical students on voluntary blood donation. The objective of this study was to determine the knowledge, attitude and practices about blood donation among medical students in three leading medical colleges of Karachi, Pakistan. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in three leading medical colleges of Karachi. A total of 599 medical students were interviewed using structured survey questionnaire. Medical students were selected on the basis of convenient non- probability sampling methodology. Chi-square test was used to find differences in knowledge, attitude and practices among medical students of pre-clinical years and clinical years and also among three medical colleges of Karachi. Results: Out of 599 medical students, 98.3% knew that donating blood saves life. However, only 23% of the medical students have ever donated blood in their life. 'Feeling of underweight', 'scared of donating blood', 'parent's prohibition' and 'not asked to donate blood' were the major reasons for not donating blood. 57.2% believed they should always take permission from their parents before donating blood. 82.6% thought in case of emergency, they will be willing to donate blood. 58.7% of student donated blood in post clinical years (Year 3-5), as compared to 41.3% of pre-clinical years (Year 1-2) students and their difference was found to be significant (P <0.01). The proportion of students that donated blood was also highest in private sector Liaquat National Medical college LNMC (41.3%) as compare to public sector Sindh Medical college SMC which was lowest (22.5%) and the difference among all three medical colleges was found to be significant (P<0.001). Conclusion: This study elicits the importance of adopting effective measures in our campuses to motivate about voluntary blood donation among students.

Key Words: Knowledge; Attitude; blood donation; Medical students, Pakistan