Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Scarcity of blood and blood products is frequently encountered in health care institutions. Medical students can serve as an important pool of potential blood donors for the attached teaching hospitals. AIM: To determine the knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) of medical students about voluntary blood donation. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: It was a cross- sectional study conducted among medical students of Dr RPGMC Tanda in Himachal Pradesh, in the months of August to December, 2015. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All the students present on the day of the survey who expressed their consent for participation were enrolled in the study. A pre- tested, structured questionnaire was used as a study tool. After the collection of the baseline information, a brief interactive awareness session, addressing voluntary blood donation was organized for the participants and their willingness to donate blood was again noted at the conclusion of the session. The data was analyzed by using SPSS software. RESULTS: 235 students participated in the study, 102 (43.4%) males and 133 (56.5%) females. The mean age was 20.42 ±1.38 years. KNOWLEDGE OF VOLUNTARY BLOOD DONATION: The mean knowledge score of participants was 74.4%. Overall 225 (95.7%) participants were aware of their blood groups. Attitude related to blood donation: 91% study participants felt that people should donate blood and were themselves willing to donate blood. PRACTICE RELATING TO BLOOD DONATION: Out of the 235 study participants, only 54(22.9%) had donated blood so far. Willingness to donate blood after interactive awareness session increased from 91% to 97.5%. Conclusion: The study population has relatively good knowledge and a favourable attitude about voluntary blood donation. However the prevalence of blood donation among the students is still low, especially among the girls.