The prevalence of latex allergy in sixth-year medical students: assessment of knowledge, risk, and attitudes about future specialty direction.
BACKGROUND
In the prevention of latex allergy, knowledge levels and risk determination for latex allergy of medical students gain importance.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the latex allergy knowledge levels of sixth-year medical students and their latex allergy risk.


METHODS
Students completed a questionnaire that assessed basic knowledge of latex allergy and that evaluated latex-related symptoms and latex exposure. The specialty branch students were going to choose in the Medical Specialty Examination was also asked. Skin prick tests (SPTs) with latex and inhalant allergens and patch tests with latex-related products were then performed. Finally, students were asked again about any changes in branch selection after learning their individual risks.


RESULTS
Two hundred twenty sixth-year students were enrolled. Forty-four percent of the students gave the right answer for description of latex. Correct identification of at least 1 latex-related product used outside and inside hospitals was 55.5% and 95.5%, respectively. The prevalence of latex sensitization was 4.4% according to SPT results. The positivity of SPT to any inhalant allergen was 35% (n = 64). None of the students changed their mind about their specialty branch after learning their latex allergy risk.


CONCLUSIONS
Last-year medical students have a remarkably low latex allergy knowledge level, which imposes a serious professional risk. Training strategies based on the benefit to this risk group and reevaluation are strongly recommended before graduation from medical school.
Erkekol
Ferda Oner
FO
Division of Allergy, Department of Chest Disease, Ankara University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. erkekol@medicine.ankara.edu.tr
Celik
Gülfem E
GE
Hayran
Mutlu
M
Dursun
Berna A
BA
Göksel
Ozlem Keskin
OK
Misirligil
Mehmet Selçuk
MS
Demirel
Yavuz S
YS
D000328:Adult; D004501:Education, Medical; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis; D020315:Latex Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012882:Skin Tests; D013038:Specialization; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology