Assessment of senior medical students in the field of bronchial asthma. Final results of the study ASSA (2014-2016)

The aim of study is to estimate the knowledge of medical students at the senior courses of higher schools in the key aspect of bronchial asthma (BA). Materials and methods . The multicentre study was conducted in the Russian Federation in 6 cities (Belgorod, Chelyabinsk, Saratov, Samara, Voronezh & Vladivostok), 139 of higher grade (4th-6th grade) medical students were tested. Knowledge of key aspects of bronchial asthma such as definition, pathogenesis, diagnostics and treatment was evaluated through the means of a questionnaire consisting of 12 questions. These questions were a mix of multi choice and anecdotal. Results . The average level of correct answers totaled 72.4% and varied from 58.6% to 88.2% in different centers. The most difficult questions were the following: BA definition (43.2% of correct answers), key factor of BA pathogenesis (63.3%), peak flowmetry as the main method of BA self-control (61.9%), fixed combinations of drugs (62.6%). The best results were shown when defining the following: trigger in the development of an asthmatic attack (89.2%), the main method of BA diagnosis (89.2%), variants of BA severity (87.1%), status asthmaticus (94.2%). Conclusion . Despite the availability of plenty training and scientific literature in bronchial asthma field the level of knowledge in this area cannot be admitted as satisfactory. The level of incorrect answers to basic questions reaches 41.4% in the certain centers. Thus bronchial asthma subject should be studied more thoroughly in the medical higher schools.