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Medical Students and Pandemic Influenza
Volume 13, Number 11?November 2007
Suggested citation for this article
Abstract
To assess knowledge of pandemic influenza, we administered a questionnaire to all medical students at the University of Alberta; 354 (69%) of 510 students responded. Data from questionnaires such as this could help determine the role of medical students during a public health emergency.
Scientists believe we may be on the verge of the next great pandemic. Health Canada predicts that 4.5?10.6 million Canadians will become clinically ill and 11,000?58,000 will die in such an event (1). The current strain of influenza A (H5N1), which has been circulating in Southeast Asia among birds, with limited spread to humans, has fueled this concern (2,3). An influenza pandemic would cause a shortage of healthcare professionals due to illness and an increased demand for their services (1). Consequently, Canada and other countries have begun developing plans to deal with the anticipated health crisis (1), and medical students could play an important role.
The Study
As part of pandemic influenza planning at the University of Alberta, researchers developed a Web-based questionnaire (4) comprising 42 questions to assess demographic information, risk perception of pandemic influenza (likelihood of developing and dying from the illness), general knowledge about pandemic influenza, willingness to volunteer, and suggested consequences of not volunteering during a pandemic. Response options were generally either Yes/No or a 5-point Likert-type scale (e.g., ranging from very unlikely to very likely). The final version was administered through the Internet from September 12, 2006, until October 31, 2006. The 5-point scale responses were dichotomized. Respondents with missing values were excluded from data summaries and statistical tests.MORE AT THE LINK
http://www.cdc.gov/eid/content/13/11/1781.htm
Volume 13, Number 11?November 2007
Suggested citation for this article
Abstract
To assess knowledge of pandemic influenza, we administered a questionnaire to all medical students at the University of Alberta; 354 (69%) of 510 students responded. Data from questionnaires such as this could help determine the role of medical students during a public health emergency.
Scientists believe we may be on the verge of the next great pandemic. Health Canada predicts that 4.5?10.6 million Canadians will become clinically ill and 11,000?58,000 will die in such an event (1). The current strain of influenza A (H5N1), which has been circulating in Southeast Asia among birds, with limited spread to humans, has fueled this concern (2,3). An influenza pandemic would cause a shortage of healthcare professionals due to illness and an increased demand for their services (1). Consequently, Canada and other countries have begun developing plans to deal with the anticipated health crisis (1), and medical students could play an important role.
The Study
As part of pandemic influenza planning at the University of Alberta, researchers developed a Web-based questionnaire (4) comprising 42 questions to assess demographic information, risk perception of pandemic influenza (likelihood of developing and dying from the illness), general knowledge about pandemic influenza, willingness to volunteer, and suggested consequences of not volunteering during a pandemic. Response options were generally either Yes/No or a 5-point Likert-type scale (e.g., ranging from very unlikely to very likely). The final version was administered through the Internet from September 12, 2006, until October 31, 2006. The 5-point scale responses were dichotomized. Respondents with missing values were excluded from data summaries and statistical tests.MORE AT THE LINK
http://www.cdc.gov/eid/content/13/11/1781.htm
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