An Observational Study of Indian Medical Students: Are We Truly Aware of Monkeypox?

Abstract

Introduction Monkeypox is a zoonotic disease caused by an enveloped double-stranded DNA virus from the Poxviridae family. As the future front-liners of healthcare, it is crucial to equip medical students with adequate knowledge of diseases like monkeypox that pose a potential pandemic threat. Aim This study was planned to evaluate the level of awareness of monkeypox among Indian medical students. Methodology This was a cross-sectional, questionnaire-based research conducted using a web-based platform. The study population consisted of medical (MBBS) students from India studying in their first, second, third, final, and internship years. Data collection was done using a self-designed, semi-structured questionnaire. Results Out of the 511 students who filled out the form, 280 (54.79%) were males and 230 (45.01%) were females. Of the study respondents, 459 (89.82%) had heard about monkeypox. The internet (60.5%) and social media (55.3%) were the most common sources of information about monkeypox. The study participants were found to be fairly aware of the different modes of monkeypox transmission. A significant majority (about three-fourths) of internship-year students demonstrated knowledge about preventive measures for monkeypox, with only a minimal 5% reporting a lack of awareness. In contrast, a substantial percentage of first-year students (38%) and second-year students (37.6%) admitted to being unaware of prevention methods, with a statistically significant difference (p<0.001). Conclusion The overall knowledge levels were generally satisfactory, with respondents demonstrating awareness of different modes of monkeypox transmission. However, a concerning proportion of first-year (38%) and second-year (37.6%) students reported being unaware of prevention methods.