PANDEMIC INFLUENZA: PERCEPTION OF MEDICAL STUDENTS MEDICAL COLLEGE. TAIBAH UNIVERSITY. MEDINA, SAUDI ARABIA 2009

Background: Healthcare workers (HCWs) play a key role in any response to pandemic influenza, and will be in the frontline of exposure to infection. Recent guidance suggests that up to 50% of the workforce may be absent from work at the peak of the pandemic because of caring responsibilities. Objectives: To identify the knowledge of the final year medical students about Pandemic Influenza; and to verify their attitude towards working during pandemic and getting the vaccine of H1N1. Methods: A cross sectional survey was conducted during November 2009. The study population included all final year medical students (69students) of both genders at the medical college, Taibah University, Medina, KSA. A precoded self-reported questionnaire was reported by the students. Quantitative data were presented as mean ± SD. For the comparison of the male and female groups means, independent samples student t-test and chi-square test and linear regression were used. All tests were two tailed and considered significant when p 0.05. Results: The mean percent score for student s knowledge about H1N1 pandemic was low (59.9%±17.4), 72.5% refused vaccination against H1N1 and 31.9% refused joining voluntary work during H1N1 pandemic. Gender, age, marital status and family number were predictors r voluntary work. Conclusion: Defective knowledge and the role of the family are the main factors predispose to further attitude of medical students regarding voluntary work and vaccination.