High awareness, but barriers persist: Organ donation study in Ludhiana

A recent study conducted by the Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) has revealed that while awareness about organ donation is relatively high among both rural and urban populations in the state, perceived barriers continue to hinder actual willingness to donate. The study underscores the urgent need for targeted educational campaigns to bridge the gap between awareness and action.

The research, carried out among 455 adults attending outpatient services at the Urban Health Training Centre (UHTC) and Rural Health Training Centre (RHTC) in Ludhiana district, found that awareness levels stood at 87.07 per cent among urban respondents and 80.27 per cent among rural respondents. Urban participants demonstrated significantly better factual knowledge, particularly regarding the difference between live and deceased donation.

Interestingly, rural respondents showed greater comfort in discussing organ donation and reported stronger family support. Despite these differences, willingness to donate organs was similar across both groups, hovering around 43 per cent.

Dr Anurag Chaudhary, professor and head of the department of community medicine at the DMCH, emphasised that knowledge emerged as the strongest predictor of willingness to donate. “Our study shows that while discussions around organ donation are happening, they do not necessarily translate into action. It is factual knowledge that consistently drives willingness. Unfortunately, perceived barriers such as fear of organ misuse and procedural complexity are more prevalent among rural participants,” she said.

Highlighting the gaps, Dr Sangeeta Girdhar, professor in the department, said: “While overall awareness is encouraging, significant gaps remain in detailed knowledge, especially concerning deceased donation and the registration process. These gaps are more pronounced in rural areas and need to be addressed through region-specific interventions.”

Supporting the findings, professors Mahesh Satija and Vikram Gupta stressed the importance of culturally sensitive campaigns. “The fact that knowledge is a strong predictor of willingness underscores the need for well-designed awareness drives. These must not only inform but also address fears and misconceptions that prevent people from registering as donors,” they said.

Gurpreet Singh, a 32-year-old rural respondent who took part in the study, said: “I had heard about organ donation but was not clear about the process. After a counselling session, I realised how important it is. My family supports the idea but we worry about whether the organs will be used in a proper manner. If these doubts are cleared, more people like me will come forward.”

The study concludes that nation’s critical shortfall in organ donation could not be overcome by awareness alone. Bridging the knowledge gap and addressing perceived barriers are essential steps to encourage more people to pledge their organs. With rural-urban disparities compounding the challenge, experts believe that region-specific and culturally sensitive campaigns could be the key to save countless lives.