Assessment of senior medical students’ knowledge in treatment of patients with community-acquired pneumonia (KNOCAP project)

Abstract

The aim of study was to assess the level of senior medical students’ knowledge in clinical picture, diagnosis and treatment of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and its comparison with national clinical standards. Materials and methods: An anonymous survey was chosen as the basis study method. Five main issues in original questionnaire were analyzed. Thirty four 5th grade students, studying in the Belgorod State University on “Medical care” and “Pediatrics” programs, took part in the survey in 2016. Results: The mean level of correct answers totaled 43.5%. The most difficult were the following questions: the choice of main diagnostic criteria of CAP (mean level of correct answers was 29.4%, varying from 0.0% to 44.4% in different groups) and the definition of main criterion for termination of antibacterial treatment (ABT) in patients with CAP (stable normalization of body temperature with positive clinics) (35.3%, 16.7% - 50.0%). An optimal time for repeated X-ray examination on top of positive dynamics was correctly defined by 38.2% of students (0.0% - 67.7%). The question on “inaccurate” diagnosis of CAP in the absence of X-ray data was answered in 52.9% of cases (36.4% - 75.0%). The maximum number of correct answers was given to the question about reasons to postpone the start of ABT of CAP (61.8%, 44.4% - 100.0%). Conclusions: The results shown in the survey display that the level of senior medical students’ knowledge in treatment of patients with CAP is quite low, the level of incorrect answers on the average totaled 56.5%. Thus, a number of issues are to be considered more carefully.