Evaluation of knowledge and awareness about the ebola virus disease among the medical undergraduate students: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Introduction: Ebola virus disease (EVD), also known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever, is a fatal illness and it can be transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads in the human population by human-to-human transmission. Proper awareness of viral infection is necessary for both general population and medical professionals in minimizing the rate of mortality of the infected individual. The current cross-sectional study has been undertaken to evaluate the level of awareness about EVD in medical undergraduate students at their early academic curriculum. Materials and Methods: A total of 282 MBBS students of Malaysian origin studying in India were included in the study. Faculty-validated close-ended questionnaire was designed which comprised the questions related to general and medical-related aspects of Ebola virus. Results: Overall knowledge on EVD was moderate (score 2) with a majority of students (59%) followed by 35% of students having a low level (score 1) of awareness and only minimal number (6%) of students having an adequate level of awareness (score of 3). Conclusion: Overall knowledge about EVD among the medical undergraduate students at their preliminary curricular stages was in a satisfactory range with a score of 2. Nevertheless, their awareness of medical perspectives of EVD is comparatively more than that of general aspects.