[Neglect of tuberculosis in medical education. How medical students perceive the incidence of tuberculosis in Germany].
BACKGROUND
Tuberculosis is still a health problem. Due to an increasing number of immunosuppressed patients the probability of getting infected with tuberculosis in the hospital rises up.


METHODS
For prevention of infections, medical students play a critical role: Firstly, because of bedside-teaching in the hospital, medical students are at risk of getting infected with tuberculosis. Secondly, immediately after university training, it is expected that they are capable to diagnose tuberculosis. The following study analysed the incidence-estimation of medical students (n = 278) of tuberculosis-morbidity and tuberculosis-mortality in Germany.


RESULTS
It becomes obvious, that medical students still have gaps in their knowledge about tuberculosis. They underestimated the incidence of tuberculosis and they overestimated the mortality of tuberculosis.


CONCLUSIONS
The study indicates a misperception of relevant health problems which may be due to the study situation at German Medical Schools. Medical students need more information and counselling about epidemiology of infectious diseases including tuberculosis.
Klewer
J
J
Abteilung für Medizinische Psychologie, Ruhr-Universität Bochum.
Seelbach
H
H
Kugler
J
J
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002423:Cause of Death; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003479:Curriculum; D004501:Education, Medical; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000401:mortality* / Q000517:prevention & control
Vernachlässigung der Tuberkulose im Medizinstudium. Wie Medizinstudierende die Tuberkulosehäufigkeit in Deutschland einschätzen.