Assessment of medical students' knowledge regarding human immunodeficiency virus transmission: comparisons by gender, residence, and training level

As the incidence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection increases, health care practitioners are being called upon to counsel and educate patients regarding the complications associated with HIV infection. In addition, the anxiety levels of health care workers reveal that similar educational efforts must be initiated early in the training of health care professionals. In this study we surveyed 341 first and second year medical students from three medical schools to assess their levels of knowledge about how HIV infection is and is not transmitted. Results were analyzed overall, by site, by gender, and by the respondents' locality (urban or rural). Analysis revealed that knowledge regarding HIV transmission varied dramatically among these first and second year medical students. Place of residence, gender, and class rank did not appear to be factors affecting these students' knowledge. We recommend that caution be exercised in assuming that prospective physicians possess current knowledge on how HIV infection is transmitted.