Do the Compassion and Spirituality Levels of Turkish Nursing Students Influence their Attitudes Toward Organ Donation?

Abstract

This study was a descriptive-correlational design which evaluated the relationship between compassion and spirituality levels and attitudes toward organ donation among Turkish nursing students. A sample of 296 participants studying in the nursing department of a foundation university in the spring semester of the 2021-2022 academic year was formed. A descriptive information form, Spirituality Scale, Compassion Scale, and Organ Donation Attitude Scale were used for data collection. Pearson correlation and multivariate regression analysis were used to evaluate scale scores. The compassion levels of students were high, their attitudes toward organ donation were positive and strong, and their level of spirituality ( x = 18.71 +/- 6.10) was slightly above average. Higher levels of spirituality and compassion were positively correlated with positive attitudes toward organ donation (p < 0.05). The compassion and spirituality of nurses should be high for raising public awareness of organ donation.