title: Knowledge and attitude on sex among medical students of a Malaysian university: a comparison study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between clinical/socio-demographic factors with knowledge and attitude on sex among medical students of the National University of Malaysia (UKM).
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study assessing 452 students using a self-administered questionnaire of knowledge and attitude was performed and had a response rate of 80%.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of respondents were Malays (56%), females (57.5%), lived in urban areas (66.4%), had a median family income of RM3000 and perceived themselves as moderately religious (60%). The overall score on knowledge about sex was 21.7 of 35 (a higher score indicates better knowledge about sex). It was noted that 73.2% of students felt that they did not receive adequate training in medical school to deal with patients' sexuality and sexual problems, while 51.5% felt uncomfortable talking to patients about these issues. Students in the clinical year were more knowledgeable than those in pre-clinical years (22.67 versus 20.71, P < 0.001). No significant differences were found in terms of their backgrounds, such as being from urban or rural areas (P = 0.349) and between genders (P = 0.286). Only 54.9% of students had a satisfactory level of knowledge on sex (>22 marks [median score]).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The students' attitude on sex was considered conservative as the majority of them disagreed on premarital sex, masturbation, abortion, homosexuality and oral sex. Gender and religiosity have a large influence on attitudes on controversial sexual issues, whereas clinical status plays a small role. Knowledge on sex among UKM medical students is inadequate and their attitudes on sex are considered conservative. Integration of sexual medicine and health modules in the medical curriculum is crucial for students to more effectively address patients' sexual problems and promote non-judgmental attitudes towards patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Hatta
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sidi
authors.forename: Sit Fong
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Loh
authors.forename: Raynuha
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mahadevan
authors.forename: Sharifah Ezat Wan
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Puteh
authors.forename: Ramli
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Musa
authors.forename: Chia Yee
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Ammar Amsyar Abdul
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Hadi
authors.forename: Siti Hajara
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Sa'aid
authors.forename: Zulfahmi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Amali
authors.forename: Murnira
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abidin
authors.forename: Srijit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Das
authors.forename: Mohamed Hatta
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Saharom
authors.forename: Hazli
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zakaria
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006716:Homosexuality / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D012577:Schools, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: attitude; knowledge; medical student; sex