Attitudes of healthcare students in Syria toward organ donation and their association with healthcare system distrust in the context of a prolonged war

The demand for organ transplantation continues to rise due to the spread of serious and chronic diseases, yet only 10% of the need is being met. In Syria, organ donation relies primarily on living donors, highlighting the necessity of promoting deceased organ donation. Therefore, medical college students can play an important role in raising awareness and educating the public to increase organ donation rates. To better understand how medical, dental, and pharmacy students in Syria view organ donation, a cross-sectional study was conducted. Over the course of three weeks, 615 students completed questionnaires that were distributed electronically, via QR codes, and in printed form both on and off campus. The survey included questions about their background, trust in the healthcare system, attitudes toward organ donation, and multiple-choice questions, all collected with strict ethical oversight and informed consent. Social media (43.3%) and university courses (29.9%) emerged as the primary sources of students’ knowledge about organ donation. Overall attitudes were positive (mean = 3.65 ± 0.55). Furthermore, both medical students, participants from high-income family backgrounds, and sixth-year students had significantly more positive attitudes (p < 0.05). However, some barriers, such as lack of trust in the healthcare system, concerns about confidentiality, cultural and religious sensitivities, and perceived discomfort when seeking consent from the families of the deceased, are high. The ongoing war in Syria has exacerbated these challenges. we recommend structured educational programs, transparent healthcare policies to rebuild trust, and targeted social media campaigns.