Strategies and interventions to promote organ donation and transplantation among university students: a systematic review

BACKGROUND: Organ donation and transplantation (ODT) represent essential strategies to address end-stage organ failure. However, global donation rates remain insufficient, and information gaps persist among young populations. OBJECTIVE: To identify the current strategies and interventions implemented in different countries to promote organ donation and transplantation among university students. METHODS: This systematic review followed PRISMA guidelines and was conducted using Scopus, Clarivate Web of Science, and PubMed up to November 2025. Eligible outcomes included willingness to donate, attitudes, knowledge, family communication, and perceptions of the intervention. A total of 330 records were identified, and 16 studies met the inclusion criteria. RESULTS: 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). CONCLUSIONS: A variety of educational and communicative strategies can improve university students’ knowledge, attitudes, and willingness toward ODT. However, the limited use of emerging technologies highlights the need for more rigorous, innovative, and long-term evaluations to strengthen ODT promotion among diverse university populations.