Impact of Educational Intervention on The Knowledge of Epidemiology, Prevention and Control of Rabies Among Paramedical Students, Taxilla

Abstract

Objective: To assess the knowledge of epidemiology, transmission, prevention and control of rabies and to find the effect of an educational intervention in paramedical students of HITEC-IMS, Taxilla.
 Study Design: Quasi-experimental study.
 Place and Duration of Study: HITEC-IMS, Taxilla, from Mar to Sep 2019.
 Methodology: Study was carried out among paramedical students enrolled in 2 years diploma course in HITEC-IMS, Taxilla. Students were included by non-probability consecutive sampling.
 Results: Out of the total of 89 participants, the fatality of rabies was identified by 63 (70.8%) respondents in pre-test and by 84 (94.4%) respondents in post-test (p<0.001). Less than half of the participants knew about bats as a reservoir of rabies (22, 24.7%) in pre-test that raised to 59 participants (66.3%) in post-test (p<0.001). The proper sequence of protocol for postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) in un-vaccinated persons was identified by 42 (47.2%) respondents with an improvement of 27% in post-test (p<0.001). Proper order of rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) vaccine schedule in humans were identified by 16 (18.0%) respondents with an improvement of 6% in post-test (p=0.031).
 Conclusion: Knowledge of reservoir, mode of transmission, prevention and control of rabies after educational intervention showed a significant increase in the students.