The Impact of Microbiology Instruction on Students’ Perceptions of Risks Related to Microbial Illness

Abstract

This study examined students' perceptions of the risks associated with microbial transmission before and after taking a microbiology class. Participants included undergraduate students (n ¼ 132) enrolled in a microbiology course at two universities and one community college. Students completed a survey at the beginning and end of the course and a sub-sample of students also participated in pre-and post-course interviews. The survey results showed that there were changes in students' knowledge of microbes and microbial transmission as well as changes in reported behaviors related to microbial transmission. The behavior changes primarily involved perceptions of microbial transmission via touch such as using a public telephone, touching a faucet in a public bathroom, handling money, borrowing soap from a friend while camping, working in the dirt without gloves, and taking out the trash. There were no differences in behaviors related to oral transmission (eating, drinking, and kissing) or for preventative behavior (use of sanitizing items or frequency of hand washing). Exploratory factor analysis showed a subtle shift in the conceptualization of transmission risks from pre-to post-course. Pre-and postinterviews revealed that although students gained a more sophisticated concept of the positive role of microbes in the ecosystem, they were not more likely to report changing their behaviors related to vaccines to avoid getting sick from pathogenic microbes.

Assessing the Impact of a School Intervention to Promote Students’ Knowledge and Practices on Correct Antibiotic Use

“…Another study performed in the USA with undergraduate students involving instruction on microbiology, showed important changes in students’ knowledge on microorganisms and alterations in reported behaviors related to microbial transmission [35]. Similarly, a recent study in Portugal entitled “Microbiology recipes” showed the importance of educational activities incorporating hands-on activities in science education.…”

High School Science Students’ Ideas About Microorganisms and Their Place in the Curriculum

“…He determined that students were mistaken about the concept of germs, what they look like and where they live. Jones et al (2013) tried to determine the knowledge and behaviours of university students before and after microbiology courses. They found that there was a positive change in the students' knowledge.…”

Comparison of social and culture based risk perception of personal hygiene behaviours

“…This study includes qualitative data from interviews and quantitative data from questionnaire. A questionnaire originally developed by Jones et al. (2012) was administered to 113 Taiwanese undergraduates who enrolled in a natural science course as part of the general education in a private university in the north area of Taiwan.…”

“…However, the sampling of this study does not apply to the whole population which is discussed in limitation. Moreover, the results of the current study were compared with the results of a pretest in the study by Jones et al. (2012) in the south-eastern area of the USA.…”