A survey to assess awareness about intellectual disability disorder in students studying homoeopathy

Abstract

Objectives:Students in homoeopathic colleges must be oriented towards intellectual disability (intellectual developmental disorder – ID/IDD) from the homoeopathic and medical perspectives; moreover, they should have a basic understanding of the social, ethical and legal implications of this condition. The objective of this study was to identify the knowledge, attitudes and level of awareness of homoeopathic students regarding IDDs using a standardised questionnaire.Materials and Methods:A survey of undergraduate and postgraduate students of Bakson Homoeopathic Medical College, Greater Noida was undertaken using NIMH – GEM questionnaire. Responses to the 30 statements in the questionnaire were calculated to determine the overall mean score, which was compared between sexes and the graduate and postgraduate levels. Responses to individual questions were analysed to identify the areas of low knowledge and awareness.Results:A total of 143 undergraduate and postgraduate students participated; 30 were male and 113 were female. The mean participant score was 6.22 +3.18 (95% confidence interval 5.69–6.75), suggesting a good level of awareness among the students. Significantly, a higher score was seen in the male students than in the female students. There was no significant difference between the scores of undergraduate and postgraduate students.Conclusion:While most students have a high level of understanding and awareness of IDD, certain areas from the rehabilitation perspective need to be explored further, specifically relating to the extent of independent activity that patients with IDD can attain with rehabilitation and care.