IADR Abstract Archives
KNOWLEDGE ABOUT HIV/AIDS: A SURVEY AMONG FIRST AND LAST YEAR DENTAL AND MEDICAL STUDENTS
Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the dental and medical students’ knowledge and awareness about HIV/AIDS.
Methods: This descriptive study comprised of first and last year students of Yeditepe University, Faculty of Dentistry and Medicine. A questionnaire of 54 items was used to assess the students’ knowledge and awareness towards HIV/AIDS. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics 22 program (IBM SPSS, Turkey).
Results: The mean age of students were 21.60 years. All of the students gave correct answer about the blood as a body fluids containing HIV virus. However, their knowledge about saliva, breast milk, cerebrospinal fluid and feces were low. The level of knowledge of risk groups for medicine and dental students was high. However, transmission routes were low. The knowledge level of HIV diagnosing tests was also low in first grade students than last year students. Regarding oral manifestations, last year medical students and both first year dental and medical students had less knowledge than last year dental students.
Conclusions: Lack of the relevant education is obvious among both groups in our study group.The importance of HIV/AIDS as a public health problem all over the world should be emphasized more, and efficacious dental and medical education programs should be prepared.
Methods: This descriptive study comprised of first and last year students of Yeditepe University, Faculty of Dentistry and Medicine. A questionnaire of 54 items was used to assess the students’ knowledge and awareness towards HIV/AIDS. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics 22 program (IBM SPSS, Turkey).
Results: The mean age of students were 21.60 years. All of the students gave correct answer about the blood as a body fluids containing HIV virus. However, their knowledge about saliva, breast milk, cerebrospinal fluid and feces were low. The level of knowledge of risk groups for medicine and dental students was high. However, transmission routes were low. The knowledge level of HIV diagnosing tests was also low in first grade students than last year students. Regarding oral manifestations, last year medical students and both first year dental and medical students had less knowledge than last year dental students.
Conclusions: Lack of the relevant education is obvious among both groups in our study group.The importance of HIV/AIDS as a public health problem all over the world should be emphasized more, and efficacious dental and medical education programs should be prepared.