Assessment of the knowledge and attitudes regarding HIV/AIDS among pre-clinical medical students in Israel

Abstract

BackgroundToday’s medical students are the future physicians of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). It is therefore essential that medical students possess the appropriate knowledge and attitudes regarding PLWHA. This study aims to evaluate knowledge and attitudes of pre-clinical Israeli medical students and to assess whether their knowledge and attitudes change throughout their pre-clinical studies.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among all pre-clinical medical students from the four medical schools in Israel during the academic year of 2010/2011 (a total of 1,470 students). A self-administered questionnaire was distributed. The questionnaire sought student responses pertaining to knowledge of HIV transmission and non-transmission routes, basic knowledge of HIV/AIDS treatment and attitudes towards HIV/AIDS.ResultsThe study’s response rate was 62.24 percent. Knowledge among pre-clinical medical students was generally high and showed a statistically significant improvement as students progressed through their pre-clinical studies. However, there were some misconceptions, mostly regarding HIV transmission via breastfeeding and knowledge of HIV prevention after exposure to the virus. Students’ attitudes were found to include stigmatizing notions. Furthermore, the majority of medical students correlated HIV with shame and fear. In addition, students’ attitudes toward HIV testing and providing confidential medical information were contradictory to health laws, protocols and guidelines. Overall, no positive changes in students’ attitudes were observed during the pre-clinical years of medical school.ConclusionThe knowledge of pre-clinical medical students in Israel is generally high, although there are some knowledge inadequacies that require more emphasis in the curricula of the medical schools. Contrary to HIV-related knowledge, medical students’ attitudes are unaffected by their progression through medical school. Therefore, medical schools in Israel should modify their curricula to include teaching methods aimed at improving HIV-related attitudes and adherence to medical professionalism.

A Cross-sectional Assessment of Knowledge, Attitudes and Beliefs Concerning HIV/AIDS among Pakistani University Population

“…In the current study, university students had adequate levels HIV/AIDS knowledge, which was comparable to findings of earlier studies conducted on United Arab Emirates university students [10] and Israeli pre-clinical medical students [11] . Bektas and Kulakac reported that the Turkish nursing students had moderate level of HIV/AIDS knowledge [12] .…”

“…Not surprisingly, we observed that overall knowledge and attitude scores increased significantly with age as participants with higher age had more years of university education. Baytner-Zamir et al [11] also reported an overall improvement in the HIV/AIDS knowledge among students as they progressed through their pre-clinical studies. Contrary to the findings of Haroun et al [10] , we found out that females had better HIV/AIDS knowledge and attitudes than males.…”

Knowledge and Perception of Sexual Health among Medical Undergraduates: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Based on the study, it is recommended to implement sexual education in high school curriculum and institution of higher learning in Malaysia as it is not implemented yet here due to political and religion sensitivity. Medical undergraduates should not have stigmatized notion on sexual health education which include sexual transmitted diseases, as this attitude will affect their management in future career, which is against the clinical guidelines and health laws and protocol, as shown in a study conducted among pre-clinical medical students in Israel [18]. Another recommendation is that medical undergraduates should learn more about sexual health and related issues to improve their knowledge about it.…”

A Cross-Sectional Study on Adolescents’ Awareness on HIV/AIDS among Secondary School Students

“…[8] On the other hand, adequate knowledge about this disease among the adolescent students can not only help them protect themselves but would also reduce the HIVassociated apprehensions, fears and social stigma. [9,10] There is a strong relationship between HIV/AIDS and other STIs such as Hepatitis B, Syphilis, Gonorrhoea, chlamydial infections, genital herpes etc (Mhalu, 1990;WHO, 2003). [11,12] Through awareness on HIV/AIDS, the adolescent students will benefit further due to reduced risk of such other STIs also.…”