Tick-borne encephalitis: students’ attitude and knowledge analysis

Background. Lithuania is one of the countries with the highest incidence of TBE in Europe. In 2015 there was 12 cases per 100 000 people per year and in 2016 this number was higher by two times. The aim of this study is to investigate and evaluate I–IV year medical students’ attitude and knowledge...

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Main Authors: R. Mineikytė, G. Navickaitė, J. Valaikienė
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Vilnius University Press 2018-06-01
Series:Neurologijos seminarai
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Online Access:https://www.journals.vu.lt/neurologijos_seminarai/article/view/27841
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author R. Mineikytė
G. Navickaitė
J. Valaikienė
author_facet R. Mineikytė
G. Navickaitė
J. Valaikienė
author_sort R. Mineikytė
collection DOAJ
description Background. Lithuania is one of the countries with the highest incidence of TBE in Europe. In 2015 there was 12 cases per 100 000 people per year and in 2016 this number was higher by two times. The aim of this study is to investigate and evaluate I–IV year medical students’ attitude and knowledge of TBE incidences in Lithuania, risk of getting it, complications, treatment, preventive methods and behaviour, and information sources about tick-borne diseases. Materials and methods. The study was conducted using an anonymous questionnaire, which was administered to 404 students studying at I–IV year medical courses (average age 20.7±1.56, range from 17 to 30 years). The questionnaire consisted of 21 semi-closed questions. There were 6 questions about TBE, its incidence, complications and treatment, 9 questions about preventive methods of tick-borne diseases, and 2 questions about information sources and how accessible this information is. Results. TBE as a tick-borne disease was named by 397 (98.3%) students and Lyme borreliosis was named by 382 (94.6%). The fact that TBE incidence in Lithuania is high (>11 cases per 100 000 per year) was known only to 58 (14.4%) respondents, 159 (39.4%) answered that the incidence is medium (2–10 cases per 100 000 per year). The most commonly named complications of TBE were paralysis and paresis – 327 (81%) students. 3 respondents (1%) thought that TBE is a dis ease without any complications. The most effective preventive method, chosen by 237 (58.7%) students, was vaccination. There were 169 (41.8%) vaccinated students. 106 (26%) students thought that there are no specific treatment for TBE, only supportive care. The fact that people are well enough informed about tick-borne diseases was supported by 113 (28%) students, and 193 (47.8%) students thought that there is lack of information. 219 (54%) students named media as the main source of information. Conclusions. Only 14.4% of students knew that TBE incidence in Lithuania is high, not medium. Almost all of them agreed that TBE causes long term complications but only one of four knew that there is no specific, only supportive care. The majority of students think that vaccination is the most effective preventive method and almost half of students were vaccinated against tick-borne encephalitis. Every second student thinks that society is not enough informed about tick-borne diseases.
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spelling doaj-art-6931b8d8d1a145d4bd54df0a980d55572025-01-20T18:23:15ZengVilnius University PressNeurologijos seminarai1392-30642424-59172018-06-01222(76)10.29014/ns.2018.15Tick-borne encephalitis: students’ attitude and knowledge analysisR. Mineikytė 0G. Navickaitė1J. Valaikienė 2Vilnius University, LithuaniaVilnius University, LithuaniaVilnius University, Lithuania Background. Lithuania is one of the countries with the highest incidence of TBE in Europe. In 2015 there was 12 cases per 100 000 people per year and in 2016 this number was higher by two times. The aim of this study is to investigate and evaluate I–IV year medical students’ attitude and knowledge of TBE incidences in Lithuania, risk of getting it, complications, treatment, preventive methods and behaviour, and information sources about tick-borne diseases. Materials and methods. The study was conducted using an anonymous questionnaire, which was administered to 404 students studying at I–IV year medical courses (average age 20.7±1.56, range from 17 to 30 years). The questionnaire consisted of 21 semi-closed questions. There were 6 questions about TBE, its incidence, complications and treatment, 9 questions about preventive methods of tick-borne diseases, and 2 questions about information sources and how accessible this information is. Results. TBE as a tick-borne disease was named by 397 (98.3%) students and Lyme borreliosis was named by 382 (94.6%). The fact that TBE incidence in Lithuania is high (>11 cases per 100 000 per year) was known only to 58 (14.4%) respondents, 159 (39.4%) answered that the incidence is medium (2–10 cases per 100 000 per year). The most commonly named complications of TBE were paralysis and paresis – 327 (81%) students. 3 respondents (1%) thought that TBE is a dis ease without any complications. The most effective preventive method, chosen by 237 (58.7%) students, was vaccination. There were 169 (41.8%) vaccinated students. 106 (26%) students thought that there are no specific treatment for TBE, only supportive care. The fact that people are well enough informed about tick-borne diseases was supported by 113 (28%) students, and 193 (47.8%) students thought that there is lack of information. 219 (54%) students named media as the main source of information. Conclusions. Only 14.4% of students knew that TBE incidence in Lithuania is high, not medium. Almost all of them agreed that TBE causes long term complications but only one of four knew that there is no specific, only supportive care. The majority of students think that vaccination is the most effective preventive method and almost half of students were vaccinated against tick-borne encephalitis. Every second student thinks that society is not enough informed about tick-borne diseases. https://www.journals.vu.lt/neurologijos_seminarai/article/view/27841tick-borne encephalitistick-borne encephalitis virusincidencevaccinationprevention
spellingShingle R. Mineikytė
G. Navickaitė
J. Valaikienė
Tick-borne encephalitis: students’ attitude and knowledge analysis
Neurologijos seminarai
tick-borne encephalitis
tick-borne encephalitis virus
incidence
vaccination
prevention
title Tick-borne encephalitis: students’ attitude and knowledge analysis
title_full Tick-borne encephalitis: students’ attitude and knowledge analysis
title_fullStr Tick-borne encephalitis: students’ attitude and knowledge analysis
title_full_unstemmed Tick-borne encephalitis: students’ attitude and knowledge analysis
title_short Tick-borne encephalitis: students’ attitude and knowledge analysis
title_sort tick borne encephalitis students attitude and knowledge analysis
topic tick-borne encephalitis
tick-borne encephalitis virus
incidence
vaccination
prevention
url https://www.journals.vu.lt/neurologijos_seminarai/article/view/27841
work_keys_str_mv AT rmineikyte tickborneencephalitisstudentsattitudeandknowledgeanalysis
AT gnavickaite tickborneencephalitisstudentsattitudeandknowledgeanalysis
AT jvalaikiene tickborneencephalitisstudentsattitudeandknowledgeanalysis