Medical student knowledge of global health problems: obstetric fistulas in developing countries.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
9-1-2012
Institution/Department
Surgery, Obstetrics & Gynecology
Journal Title
The Journal of reproductive medicine
MeSH Headings
Adult, Clinical Competence, Cross-Sectional Studies, Developing Countries, Female, Humans, Obstetric Labor Complications, Pregnancy, Rectovaginal Fistula, Students, Medical, Surveys and Questionnaires, Vesicovaginal Fistula, Young Adult
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate medical students in the United States at several medical schools regarding their knowledge of the global health burden of obstetric fistulas.
STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 8 schools across the United States over a period of 6 months. The survey was composed of 18 questions on epidemiology, pathology, and treatment of fistulas. It was a web-based module accessed through an emailed link. It was sent to 5,103 medical students' email addresses at the 8 institutions once a week for 4 weeks. SPSS paired student t tests was used for statistical analysis.
RESULTS: Of the 1,089 students from 8 medical schools that initially began the survey, 965 completed this voluntary and anonymous survey, with a 21% response rate and 19% completion rate. Overall the students averaged 11/18 (60.7%) correct on this survey. The knowledge of obstetric fistula improved, but not significantly, with increasing level of medical school education, with first-year medical students achieving 10/18 (55%) correct and senior medical students achieving 12/18 (67%) correct (p = 0.1).
CONCLUSION: U.S. medical students' knowledge of obstetric fistulas in developing countries does not increase significantly over 4 years of medical school education. While this condition presents largely in the developing world, given rapid globalization as well as increased international health experiences for U.S.-trained health professionals,further effort should be placed in improving medical student knowledge of this devastating condition.
ISSN
0024-7758
First Page
427
Last Page
430
Recommended Citation
Foust-Wright, Caroline E; Shobeiri, S Abbas; Curry, Christine L; Quiroz, Lieschen H; and Nihira, Mikio A, "Medical student knowledge of global health problems: obstetric fistulas in developing countries." (2012). Maine Medical Center. 2086.
https://knowledgeconnection.mainehealth.org/mmc/2086
