scholarly journals Dental and Medical Students’ Knowledge and Attitude toward COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study from Pakistan

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (S 01) ◽  
pp. S97-S104
Author(s):  
Saqib Ali ◽  
Beenish Fatima Alam ◽  
Faraz Farooqi ◽  
Khalid Almas ◽  
Sara Noreen

Abstract Objective The aims of this study were to investigate the awareness, knowledge, and attitudes of Pakistani medical and dental undergraduate students toward COVID-19 during the surge of its outbreak. Materials and Methods The multicentered, cross-sectional study was carried out nationwide among undergraduate medical and dental students. A convenience sampling technique was used. A self-developed online questionnaire was pretested to be completed by the participants. It was distributed using social media. The survey was comprised of questions related to demographics, health status, general hygiene perception, understanding, and the learning attitudes of the students. Comparisons of the knowledge scores and the attitude responses with the demographic information were done using the independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, and Chi-square, as appropriate. Results Of the 937 total respondents, 353 (38%) were males and 582 (62%) were females; two students did not mark their gender. Of these, 680 (73%) were dental students and 257 (27%) were medical students. The mean knowledge score of the female dental students (5.15 ± 1.08) was significantly higher than that of the male students (4.87 ± 1.09). Overall, the mean knowledge score was statistically higher among the medical students in comparison to the dental students (5.21 ± 1.15, 5.05 ± 1.09; p = 0.054), respectively. Conclusion The medical and dental students were both aware of the importance of the use of a mask. The medical students had a greater awareness regarding the mode of transmission, symptoms, and origin of COVID-19. However, the dental students showed better understanding of the use of surgical masks and the correct protocol for hand washing. Social media was considered the main source for COVID-19 related information.

2021 ◽  
Vol 59 (243) ◽  
pp. 1146-1149
Author(s):  
Sajala Kafle ◽  
Nisha Jha ◽  
Ravi Shankar Pathyil

Introduction: Self-medication is common among medical students. Medical and dental students can also educate the population about the use of medicines. The aim of the study was to find the mean knowledge score of self-medication among first and second year medical and dental students at a medical college in Nepal. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in a medical college from 1st to 28th February 2021 using a structured online questionnaire after obtaining approval from the Institutional Review Committee (approval number 077/78/32). Convenience sampling method was undertaken. The responses were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 26. Results: Out of 173 students the mean±SD knowledge score was 79.47±6.76. The mean knowledge score of the participants of age group 17-18, 19-20 and 21-22 years were 83.8, 79 and 79.1 respectively. The mean knowledge scores of the male and female participants were 80.2 and 78.6 respectively. Similarly, the knowledge scores of respondents from undergraduate medical and dental backgrounds were 80.1 and 77.7 respectively. Conclusions: Knowledge of self-medication was high among the students. However, educational sessions to further improve and strengthen knowledge can be carried out to improve the knowledge.


2019 ◽  
Vol 09 (03) ◽  
pp. 197-201
Author(s):  
Asma Dahar ◽  
Tahira Assad ◽  
Hafiza Touseef Sayyar

Objective: To assess the awareness regarding Vitamin D amongst medical and non-medical students. Study Design and Setting: A cross-sectional study was conducted during the period December 2016-June 2017 on a sample size of 388 subjects. Methodology: Undergraduate medical and dental students that are in their 3rd or 4th year, house officers, post graduate trainees and graduate medical students were included in the study. Undergraduate and graduate students from non-medical institutes were also included. The participants were assessed on the basis of a questionnaire which contained 15 closed ended questions. Results: The age of participants in this research varied from 21 to 35 years with the mean age of 24. Male subjects were 25 % but the females were predominant in this study, calculating 75%. Medical subjects were 70.4% (n= 273) and Nonmedical subjects were 29.6% (n= 115). Undergraduates were 79.4% (n=308) and Graduates were 20.6% (n=80). An overall of 75% of the medical subjects have satisfactory knowledge as compared to 25% of the non-medical subjects. Conclusion: There is a lack of awareness regarding vitamin D among non-medical students. Awareness of vitamin among medical students was also not up to the mark


Author(s):  
Krutarth R. Brahmbhatt ◽  
Amul B. Patel

Background: Antimicrobial-resistant organisms are spreading worldwide, and the pipeline for new antimicrobials remains meager. The next generation of doctors must be better prepared to use antimicrobials more sparingly and appropriately.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among undergraduate medical students of GMERS Medical College Junagadh from January to May 2017. Self-administered structured close ended questionnaire in English was used. Pearson’s correlation co-efficient, t test and ANOVA were used as tests of significance.Results: Total 130 students participated in the study. Participation of females (48.5%) and males (51.5%) was almost equal. Almost 60% participants had adequate knowledge about antimicrobial resistance. The mean antimicrobial resistance knowledge score of participants was 22.7 (SD: ±5.27, min: 8, max: 37).Conclusions:Important finding of the study was that just one forth of the participants agreed that information they have received so far in medical course regarding antimicrobial resistance is adequate. The budding doctors should receive correct, adequate information regarding antimicrobial resistance.  


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thinley Dorji ◽  
Saran Tenzin Tamang ◽  
TVSVGK Tilak

Background: Bhutan lacks a medical school and all their medical students are trained outside in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and India. When the COVID-19 pandemic let to closure of medical schools in these countries, the Bhutanese medical students were repatriated in March-April 2020. Upon return, they were kept in government-sponsored facility quarantine for 21 days. This study assessed their knowledge on COVID-19 as a part of self-learning and attitude as part of preparedness towards participation in government's health response to COVID-19. Method: This was a cross-sectional study among medical students who had returned to the country. This survey was conducted through an online questionnaire while the students were in 21-day facility quarantine. The sample size calculated was 129 and a convenient sampling was used. Knowledge was assessed using 20 questions, each scored 1/20. Cumulative score of score of >=80% was categorized as "good knowledge", score of >=60-79% was considered "satisfactory knowledge", and score <60% was considered "poor knowledge." Correlation between knowledge score and duration of clinical clerkship was tested using Pearson's correlation coefficient. Attitude of students towards their willingness to participate in the national COVID-19 response were tested using rating scales. Data were analysed using Stata 13.1. Results: 120 medical students responded to this survey (response rate = 93%). Eighty-eight (74%) had good knowledge, 28 (23%) had satisfactory knowledge and only four (3%) had poor knowledge on COVID-19. The students scored high on the symptomatology, mode of transmission, prevention and treatment options and on local epidemiology; and scored low on the forms of mechanical ventilations and on the home-management of non-critical cases. The knowledge score correlated with duration of clinical clerkship (r = 0.326, p = 0.001). The primary source of information were social media sites (102, 85%), television (94, 78%) and newspapers (76, 63%). The majority (78, 65%) were willing to participate in the government's COVID-19 response but could not identify what roles they could play. The fear of contracting COVID-19 was reported in only in 8.7%. Conclusions: The medical students had good knowledge on COVID-19 and were self-learned through social media, television and newspapers. The students held positive attitude towards participation in the government's COVID-19 response.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 151
Author(s):  
Azlini Ismail ◽  
Nur Hanisah Ismail ◽  
Nur Yasrin Maisarah Abu Kassim ◽  
Widya Lestari ◽  
Ahmad Faisal Ismail ◽  
...  

Purpose: Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) has affected dental education in Malaysia. However, studies on dental students’ knowledge, perception, and behaviors with regards to COVID-19 are very limited. Thus, this study aims to determine the knowledge status, perceived risk, and preventive behaviors of dental students in Malaysia regarding COVID-19. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among students from 13 dental schools across Malaysia using online questionnaires. Results: From 355 respondents, 93.5% obtained a high score of knowledge of COVID-19. Female respondents scored higher than males in perceived risks and preventive behaviors. Chinese respondents scored highest in knowledge, while Malay respondents had the highest perceived risk score. The mean preventive behavior score did not vary across ethnicity. On-campus students scored higher in knowledge and perceived risk whereas off-campus students practiced more preventive behaviors. Clinical students’ knowledge score was higher than preclinical students. Final year students scored higher in knowledge and perceived risk compared to their juniors. Conclusion: The majority of dental students have good knowledge and a high perceived risk of COVID-19, and they practiced most of the preventive behaviors. However, the latest information on this disease should be incorporated into dental schools’ curriculums and updated periodically.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josko Viskic ◽  
Drazen Jokic ◽  
Marko Marelic ◽  
Lovela Machala Poplasen ◽  
Danko Relic ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND Social media (SM) has infiltrated all levels of the healthcare profession with students being at the forefront. Professional behavior on the internet, or “e-professionalism”, is paramount for adequate usage of SM for students, and their interaction with patients online. OBJECTIVE The objectives of this study were to describe and compare SM use by medical and dental students. We also wanted to assess and compare differences in attitudes between medical and dental students on e-professionalism, determine their opinion on potentially unprofessional behavior and posts and their interaction with patients on SM. METHODS A quantitative cross-sectional questionnaire study on the use of SM and attitudes about e-professionalism of students was carried out in the School of Medicine University of Zagreb, Croatia and the School of Dental Medicine University of Zagreb, Croatia. RESULTS Of the 714 collected responses 698 entered final analysis (411 medical and 287 dental students). Facebook (99%) and Instagram (80.7%) were the most commonly used SM. Unprofessional content was recognized both by medical and dental students with most interesting significant differences between groups when asked which of the following types of posts/behaviors (posted on SM) do they consider unprofessional: post with patient photos (61% dental vs. 89.8% medical, χ21=81.547, P<.001), interaction with a patient not revealing any personal identifiable information (23% dental vs. 41.8% medical, χ21=26.729, P<.001); advertising of pharmaceutical or health products without disclosing conflict of interest (26.8% dental vs. 41.1% medical, χ21=15.121, P<.001); critical comments about faculty (53% dental vs. 39.7% medical, χ21=12.076, P=.001); critical comments about teaching materials, study program, school, or university (36.2% dental vs. 25.1% medical, χ21=10.118, P=.001). Dental students believe significantly more that people have the opportunity to post photos and document aspects of their professional life which would otherwise remain private (89.5% dental vs. 84.2% medical, χ21= 4.132, P=.026), and that they should be able to do what they want online (68.3% dental vs. 60.8% medical, χ21= 4.083, P=.043). Dental students are also more open to communication through social media than medical students (39.7% dental vs. 16.3% medical, χ22=81.686, P<.001), will (41.5% dental vs. 12.2% medical, χ24= 87.344, P<.001) and have (28.2% dental vs. 5.6% medical, χ21=68.235, P<.001) accepted friend request/follow/track from patients more readily, and even sent friend requests/follow/track their patients (5.2% dental vs. 1.2% medical χ21=9.763, P=.002). CONCLUSIONS Social media use is ubiquitous among the studied student population. Awareness of e-professionalism is relatively high for both student groups with dental students being more desensitized to visual representations of patients, and more prone to interaction with patients on SM. Medical students are more open to criticism of school program and faculty. Our research also highlights previous findings that both student groups would find useful the existence of guidelines about e-professionalism.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 72-74
Author(s):  
Sushil Kharel ◽  
Bionod Raut

Background: Stress is a physical, mental or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension. Stress upsets an individual both mentally and physically. Study showed that medical students suf­fer from higher stress than other stream students. Among medical students also female students are more prone to stress due to varied reasons. This study aimed to determine the stress among female medical and dental undergraduates. Methods: This cross-sectional study was designed to evaluate and assess the levels of perceived stress and common stressors among female medical and dental students at a teaching institute of Kathmandu, Nepal. A cross-sectional study was done to the first- and second-year undergraduate female medical and dental students. Perceived stress was evaluated using universally accepted Cohen’s Perceived Stress Scale (CPSS-10). Results: A total of 176 female medical and dental students were enrolled in the study. The mean COHEN PSS score was found to be 27.97 (SD 4.32) which showed high stress among study popula­tion. Fifty nine percent (59%) of the female medical and dental students had perceived stress. Conclusions: Levels of perceived stress were very high in female students. The most common stressors were related to educational and economic concerns. The students were more focused to daily matters and problems related to their academic achievements.


Author(s):  
Hatan Hisham Mortada ◽  
Yara Aayed Alqahtani ◽  
Hadeel Zakaria Seraj ◽  
Wahbi Khalid Albishi ◽  
Hattan A Aljaaly

BACKGROUND Although plastic surgery has been gaining a lot of popularity recently, there seems to be limited perception and a poor understanding of this field by both medical professionals, including medical students, and the general public. This might alter referral patterns as well as medical students’ choice to pursue a career in plastic surgery. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to assess knowledge and perception of plastic surgery among medical students and to explore the influencing factors underlying particular beliefs. METHODS Data for this cross-sectional study were collected between August 22 and December 22, 2017. The questionnaire was formulated on the basis of our own study objectives and from available questionnaires with similar objectives. It was composed of 14 questions divided into three main parts: demographics, the specialty of plastic surgery, and media involvement and its effect on plastic surgery. The study was conducted via an online questionnaire among medical students in all years at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Data were considered significant at P<.05. All analyses were performed using SPSS, version 20. RESULTS A total of 886 medical students participated in this study. We achieved a response rate of 56.79%. The mean age of the participants was 21.2 years. The mean awareness score was 9.7 (SD 4.2) for female students and 8.3 (SD 4.2) for male students (P<.001). The condition most commonly known to be treated by a plastic surgeon was burns (70.3% of responses). CONCLUSIONS Medical students do not have adequate awareness of plastic surgery, and early exposure to this specialty may enhance their awareness.


Author(s):  
AA Toubasi ◽  
BR Khraisat ◽  
RB AbuAnzeh ◽  
HM Kalbouneh

Objective Medicine is considered one if not the most stressful educational field. Thus, the aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence of stress and poor sleeping quality among medical students and the association between them. Method This cross-sectional study was conducted at the University of Jordan on second- and third-year medical students. The questionnaire consisted of: 1) Demographics; 2) The assessment tools which were Pittsburgh Quality of Sleep Index (PSQI) and Kessler Psychological Distress Status (K10). Binary logistic regression, chi-square and linear regression were used to investigate the association between PSQI, K10, and their determinants. Results The mean for PSQI score was 6.76 ± 3.32. PSQI scores interpretation revealed that 61.7% of the 282 participants of this study were poor sleepers. Logistic regression results showed that only the category of not napping at all from the napping hours variable was significantly associated with sleeping quality. Furthermore, the mean of K10 scores was 24.5 ± 8.5. K10 scores revealed that 66.3% of the participants were stressed. Logistic regression results showed that gender and regular exercise were significantly associated with psychological distress. Additionally, chi-square test, logistic regression and linear regression showed that PSQI was significantly associated with K10 (P <0.01). Conclusions Stress and poor sleeping quality in medical students at the University of Jordan were highly prevalent and strongly associated. What determined PSQI was daytime napping, and for K10 were regular exercise and gender. Further investigations into stress and sleep quality in the Arabian region are needed.


Author(s):  
Matheus dos Santos Fernandez ◽  
Andreia Morales Cascaes ◽  
Francisco Wilker Mustafa Gomes Muniz ◽  
Nathalia Ribeiro Jorge da Silva ◽  
Camilla Hubner Bielavski ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the knowledge of Brazilian dental students about biosafety measures that should be adopted in the clinical setting during the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional study with 1,050 dental students was conducted. A semi-structured questionnaire was shared with students. Mean knowledge score on biosafety guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic was the outcome, with a maximum of 8 scores. Explanatory variables included sociodemographic and educational characteristics, aspects related to biosafety education, actions adopted by the dental schools during the pandemic, and sources of biosafety information. Multivariate linear regression analyses were performed. Results: Mean knowledge score was 5.19 (1.28). Female students (β=0.346; 95%CI:0.154–0.539), those enrolled in the intermediate (β=0.525; 95%CI:0.167–0.883) or final (β=0.569; 95%CI:0.200–0.937) stage of course, and those who had already received theoretical-practical training in biosafety (β=0.464; 95%CI:0.063–0.866) presented higher mean knowledge scores. Students who did not receive guidance on aerosol control measures before the pandemic (β=-0.324; 95%CI:-0.519–-0.130) had the lowest score. Conclusion: Students presented a medium level of knowledge about dental biosafety measures in the COVID-19 pandemic. Sociodemographic characteristics and those related to the institutional profile of the participants, and access to orientation and training in biosafety may influence their knowledge.


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