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

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