Abstract
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND:
Understanding the awareness and perception to infectious disease threats particularly among medical students is important to assist improving educational programs.
OBJECTIVE:
This study aimed to assess students’ knowledge of the pandemic H1N1 influenza.
PATIENTS AND METHODS:
A cross-sectional study was conducted among medical students of Al-Nahrain Medical College in Baghdad during February 2010. The data were collected through a self-administered anonymous questionnaire and results were analyzed using SPSS version 16.
RESULTS:
A total of 217 medical students participated in this study with a mean age of 21.1 (± 1.7). Overall, the mean score of students' knowledge was 69.95 (± 17.7) degrees. The main source of knowledge of these students (37.8%) was from the mass media. Significantly females, fourth grade, passed the last semester exams, and having educational activity dealt with swine flu scored higher.
CONCLUSION:
The awareness regarding pandemic H1N1 infection was adequate among the students regarding causative agent, disease transmission, symptoms, control and preventive measures, vaccination, and treatment. This result can be attributed to the immediate training given to these students as well as to the mass media campaign which is important in pandemic situations to avoid its spread and complications
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