Effect of Educational Training to Promote Awareness Regarding Corneal Donation: Comparison of Students Enrolled in Health Care Versus Non-Health Care Curriculums at a Turkish University.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the awareness of university students enrolled in health care versus nonhealthcare curriculums, to study knowledge on corneal donation before and after education.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional and descriptive study was conducted at a university for 5 months, from January 2020 to May 2020. A team of researchers reviewed the literature and prepared a questionnaire consisting of 22 points of information, to assess the participants' knowledge and perceptions of corneal transplant. The questionnaire was used for face-to-face interviews conducted with the participants at 3 time points: before the educational training, immediately after the educational training, and 4 to 6 weeks after the educational training. The research sample consisted of 276 students. Data were analyzed with SPSS software (version 22.0). This study complies with the Helsinki Congress and Istanbul Declaration.

RESULTS: Although the average score before the educational training was 10.93, we observed an average score of 20.79 points immediately after the educational training and an average score of 19.65 points 4 to 6 weeks after the educational training, which demonstrated a significant increase in students' knowledge level. The mean score achieved by the nursing students from the questionnaire before and after the educational training was found to be significantly higher than the mean score of the physical education and sports students. The willingness of nursing students to donate their own cornea was significantly higher before and immediately after education, and the willingness to donate a relative's cornea was found to be significantly higher just before education.

CONCLUSIONS: Greater awareness of corneal donation was associated with higher levels of education, suggesting that social awareness can increase when all health care professionals are informed about corneal donation via online platforms or face-to-face methods.