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Preventive medicine: self-assessment of knowledge, skills and attitudes of medical students at the Medical University of Vienna

Präventivmedizin: Selbsteinschätzung von Wissen, Fähigkeiten und Haltungen von Medizinstudierenden an der Medizinischen Universität Wien

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Summary

Prevention and health promotion are gaining importance in modern medical curricula. Aim of this study was to evaluate the self-assessment of knowledge, skills and attitudes of medical students towards health promotion and prevention. In 2012, at the Medical University of Vienna, 27 % of the 633 fourth-year medical students (50.3 % male and 49.7 % female; mean age: 24 years) completed a questionnaire. Results show a high assessment of prevention in most respondents. Knowledge gaps were detected on occupational health and mother–child pass examinations. However, almost all students reported sufficient knowledge on screening and risk assessment of developing cardiovascular diseases. Almost all respondents estimated to be able to identify risky behaviours. Overall, estimation towards prevention of tomorrow’s physicians is very positive. However, only 40 % believed to have been adequately trained on preventive medicine so far. Relevant preventive aspects were added to the medical curriculum in 2012–2013 with the new block ‘Public Health’.

Zusammenfassung

Prävention und Gesundheitsförderung gewinnen in modernen Medizincurricula zunehmend an Bedeutung. Ziel dieser Studie war die Selbsteinschätzung von Wissen, Fähigkeiten und Haltungen von Medizinstudierenden gegenüber Gesundheitsförderung und Prävention zu erheben. 2012 füllten 27 % der 633 Studierenden im 4. Studienjahr an der Medizinischen Universität Wien (50,3 % männlich und 49,7 % weiblich; Durchschnittsalter = 24 Jahre) einen Fragebogen aus. Die Ergebnisse zeigen einen hohen Stellenwert von Prävention beim Großteil der Befragten. Wissenslücken gab es bezüglich arbeitsmedizinischen bzw. Mutter-Kind-Pass-Untersuchungen. Hingegen gaben beinahe alle Studierende ausreichende Kenntnisse hinsichtlich Vorsorgeuntersuchungen sowie Risikoeinschätzung zur Entwicklung von Herzkreislauferkrankungen an. Fast alle Befragten glaubten Risikoverhalten identifizieren zu können. Insgesamt ist die kommende Generation von ÄrztInnen sehr positiv gegenüber Prävention eingestellt. Allerdings fühlten sich lediglich 40 % bisher durch das Studium ausreichend zum Thema Präventivmedizin ausgebildet. Das Medizincurriculum wurde nun mit der Etablierung des neuen Blocks „Public Health“ ab 2012–2013 u. a. um relevante präventive Aspekte erweitert.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Social Medicine, Centre for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1090, Vienna, Austria

    Livia Borsoi MPH,  Anita Rieder,  Katharina Viktoria Stein &  Thomas Ernst Dorner MPH

  2. Department for Medical Education, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

    Anita Rieder &  Angelika Hofhansl MME

Authors
  1. Livia Borsoi MPH
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  2. Anita Rieder
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  3. Katharina Viktoria Stein
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  4. Angelika Hofhansl MME
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  5. Thomas Ernst Dorner MPH
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Correspondence to Livia Borsoi MPH.

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Borsoi, L., Rieder, A., Stein, K. et al. Preventive medicine: self-assessment of knowledge, skills and attitudes of medical students at the Medical University of Vienna. Wien Med Wochenschr 164, 146–151 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10354-013-0261-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10354-013-0261-x

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