Awareness of the Pandemic H1N1 Influenza global outbreak 2009 among medical students in Karachi, Pakistan

Abstract

Introduction: This study aimed to assess student awareness of the pandemic pdmH1N1, including the students' attitudes and perceptions about treatment, severity of disease and preventive measures. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted among medical students of Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi. The data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire and results were analyzed using SPSS version 16. Results: A total of 396 medical students participated in this study with a mean age of 21 (± 1.4). About 365 (92.2%) were unaware of pdmH1N1. It was identified as a viral disease by 339 (85.6%) students, and 282 (71.2%) students correctly identified it as a disease affecting humans and pigs. The most common source of knowledge was television by 259 (65.4%) respondents. Most common symptoms identified were fever by 287 (72.5%), sore throat by 169 (42.7%) and cough by 127 (32.1%). Regarding vaccine, 290 (73.2%) respondents replied that it is not available and 204 (51.5%) said there is no treatment available for pdmH1N1. In severity scale 162 (40.9%) students rated it as fatal disease. According to 205 (51.8%) respondents, avoiding close contact with sick people is an effective preventive measure followed by washing hands with soap 150 (37.1%). Conclusion: The awareness regarding pdmH1N1 was not adequate among students regarding disease transmission, preventive measures, vaccinations, and available treatment. As the pdmH1N1 has become a worldwide public health problem and Pakistan is at risk of outbreak, increased awareness would be a solution to avoid its spread and complications.

Perspectives about pandemic influenza and its prophylactic measures among final year pharmacy students in Karachi, Pakistan

“…surveyed medical students of Karachi and observed that they use television and newspaper as the source of information. [11] However, in our study, the most common source from where pharmacy students get knowledge was textbooks and reported to be very confident on such source of knowledge. Second, they get knowledge from the internet but did not feel confident on such sources of information.…”

“…The knowledge of medical students was reported previously in another study. [11] In countries like Pakistan, mostly female students acquire admission in medical or health sciences, and thus, the current research also accounts majority participants as females (76.7%). As only final year Pharm.D program comprises study population, there was a minor variation in the age of participants.…”

“…Similar results were mentioned in a study conducted previously on medical students. [11] Pharmacy students were well aware about the spread of influenza. Close contact with infected person and cough or sneeze from infected person were the two most common ways of influenza dispersion in student's point of view.…”

“…Facemasks covering nose and mouth were considered as most effective preventive measure in medical students’ opinion of the previous studies. [112425] However, in some previous studies, health-care workers were unaware of preventive measures. [26] Seale et al .…”

“…Thus, pharmacy students’ education about precautionary measures, effective treatment, and follow-up is critical as well as their behaviors in these fields. [34511] Therefore, the present study was carried out to evaluate the knowledge about influenza as an attempt to identify the degree of students’ know how which may contribute in developing the education program to create awareness among these future practitioners.…”