title: Does the poor HIV/AIDS knowledge among medical students may contribute to late diagnosis?
abstract: In Poland, as in many other countries, HIV infection is often detected at a late stage. We conducted this study to determine if Polish medical students possess adequate HIV/AIDS knowledge and diagnostic skills needed to improve HIV detection and care in Poland. Between 2004 and 2006, sixth-year (senior) medical students at the Medical University of Bialystok were asked to complete an anonymous questionnaire with questions about HIV transmission route and clinical characteristics. Although more than 50% of student respondents estimated their knowledge of HIV/AIDS as good or very good, HIV/AIDS knowledge assessment results did not support this self-reported level of proficiency. More than 40% of students answered that there are no symptoms associated with HIV infection that would make primary care physicians suspect the diagnosis. A significant majority of students could not name AIDS indicator diseases. To improve public health and quality of care for persons infected with HIV, it is necessary to better educate physicians-in-training about the clinical characteristics and transmission routes for HIV/AIDS, as well as approaches to discuss human sexuality and sexually transmitted infection prevention with patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine and Community Nursing, Medical University of Białystok. Poland. dszadkowska@umwb.edu.pl
authors.forename: Dorota
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rogowska-Szadkowska
authors.forename: Sławomir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chlabicz
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D057210:Delayed Diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology; D011044:Poland; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult