Knowledge of and attitude toward xenotransplantation among medical students in China: A cross-sectional study

Background There are great challenges in the psychosocial aspects of xenotransplantation. The aim of this study was to investigate the knowledge of and attitude toward xenotransplantation among medical students in China. Methods A questionnaire consisting of 12 questions was distributed to 1000 first-to-fifth grade medical students, with 200 students in each grade. The questionnaire was self-administered and completed anonymously with no information beforehand. Results The response rate of the questionnaire was 91.5%. Most students had a good knowledge about xenotransplantation. If the results of xenotransplantation were similar with human donation, the acceptance was 63.9% when both organs were available, 70.3% to shorten the waiting time, and 86.4% to save one's life. As for the risks of xenotransplantation, 46.2%, 46.1%, and 36.9% of the respondents were worried about the risk of disease transmission, immunosuppressants, and other unknown risks, respectively. With regard to the psychosocial impacts, 38.4%, 31.9%, and 52.3% were worried about changing one's nature as a human being, changing one's personality, and discrimination by others, respectively. Conclusion Most medical students in China had a favorable attitude toward xenotransplantation. Students in the clinical years had a better knowledge of and more favorable attitude toward xenotransplantation. Their concern about the risks of xenotransplantation resolved slightly with seniority, but their concern about psychosocial impacts did not resolve with seniority.