Background: Organ shortage is a global issue and it is imperative
to take steps to bridge this gap. In the Indian context, despite its demographic
dividend, the rate of organ donation has been abysmally low. This emphasizes a
need to demystify the antecedents of organ donation intention among the Indian
population.Methods:Using a cross-sectional research design and
adopting a post-positivism research philosophy, this study identified 259
respondents by adopting a purposive sampling approach and data on knowledge of
organ donation was collected using a structured, pretested questionnaire.Results:Awareness of organ donation law in India is low on specific issues and
respondents from the health science & medicine discipline scored better
on knowledge about organ donation. The findings show that most participants
had heard about organ donation and had a favourable attitude toward it.The primary sources of information on organ donation were television
and newspapers, and healthcare service providers. A complementary partial median
is established (β = .217, t =
5.889, p < .001) which implies that willingness to
discuss with family significantly mediates the association between attitude
towards organ & tissue donation and willingness to sign the donor card.Conclusion: This study revealed that there is a general awareness
of organ and tissue donation among the Indian population, but they lack clarity
on certain specific issues. Mass media has to be effectively used to build
awareness campaigns revolving around enhancing knowledge on a specific issue and
building acceptance of the concept of organ and tissue donation.