COMPARISON OF KNOWLEDGE & PRACTICES REGARDING DENGUE INFECTION IN MEDICAL STUDENTS A PRE AND POST INTERVENTION STUDY IN THE CITY OF LAHORE

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Abstract

Study Objectives: To assess pre and post intervention preventive knowledge &
practices about Dengue infection. 1). To compare knowledge about Dengue infection between
2nd and 5th year medical students. 2). To compare preventive practices about dengue infection,
between 2nd year and 5th year medical students. Data Source: 2nd year and 5th year medical
students. Study Design: Cross-sectional with descriptive analysis. Setting: Study was
conducted in one medical school in the city of Lahore. Period: Data collection was completed in
one month. Material and Method: Out of total number of undergraduate medical schools in the
city of Lahore where each one is considered as a cluster one was selected by simple random
sampling. Within the selected cluster (medical school) the students were (study units) were
selected by simple random sampling. Data collection technique & tool: Data was collected
through self-administered questionnaires. Sample size: 200 medical students from the selected
medical school. Hundred students each from 2nd and 5th year ongoing classes were selected
through simple random sampling. Results: 35.5% (71/200) of medical students interviewed in
both the classes had an idea about the causative agent of Dengue infection of which 59.2%
(42/71) were 5th year and 40.8% (29/71) were 2nd year medical students. Sufficient knowledge
about symptoms of Dengue infection was found in 50.0% (100/200) of all participants out of which
59.0% (59/100) were in final and 41% (41/100) were in 2ndyear of medical school. 51% (102/200)
students were aware about different serotypes of Dengue infection out of which 63.7% (65/102)
were 5th year and 36.3% (37/102) were 2nd year medical students (p< 0.0001: 95% CL: 1.7-5.6).
About 42.5% (85/200) students interviewed were knowledgeable of different preventive
measures to combat Dengue infection in community of which 49.4% (42/85) were 5th year and
50.6% (43/85) were 2nd year medical students (p= 0.88, 95% CL: .54-1.6). Similarly out of 5th
year students who were aware of preventive measures against Dengue infection 50 %( 21/42)
were undertaking preventive practices as compared to 51% (22/43) of 2nd year medical students
(p= 0.91, CL: .40-2.2). Conclusions: There was no statistically significant difference in
preventive knowledge and practices against Dengue infection between 5th and 2nd year medical
students. Thus Community Medicine curriculum related to vector-borne diseases delivered in
year 4 of medical school was not successful in producing post intervention knowledge and
behavior change in 5th year medical students.