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Eye donation awareness among medical and paramedical staff in a medical institute
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Eye donation awareness among medical and paramedical staff in a medical institute

Sudesh Kumar Arya, Neeti Gupta and Archana Malik
Nepalese journal of ophthalmology, v 6(2), pp 177-184
01 Jul 2014
PMID: 25680248
url
https://doi.org/10.3126/nepjoph.v6i2.11700View
Published, Version of Record (VoR) Open

Abstract

Life Sciences & Biomedicine Ophthalmology Science & Technology
Introduction: Corneal diseases constitute a significant cause of visual impairment and blindness in the developing world. The number of corneal transplants done is far less than required due to the lack of donor cornea. A well-informed and motivatedmedical and paramedical staff can increase the rate of eye donation by counseling grief-stricken relatives of the deceased for eye donation. Objective: To assess the awareness of the medical and paramedical staff of a medical institute about eye donation. Materials and methods: This was a cross-sectional study. A self-designed, standardized, single-response type questionnaire on eye donation awarenesswas prepared and circulated in all the departments of our institute. Results: Of the 395 participants, 317(80.5%) were aware of eye donation, 312(80%) knew that the cornea is used for eye donation and 294(76%) knew that the ideal time for eye donation is within six hours of death. Only 286(72.4%) knew about pledging for eye donation and only 251(65.4%) consented fora pledge of their eyes. Of those who did not want to pledge, 12(14.8%) had religious reasons, 9(11.1%) feared disfigurement, 9(11.1%) thought that they might be born blind in their next birth and 51(63%) had some other reasons. Conclusion: There is a need for regular eye donation awareness programs not only in the community but even for the medical and paramedical staff in hospitals and medical colleges. This will ultimately enhance the eye donation program in the country to help copewith the backlog in the long term.

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Ophthalmology
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