KNOWLEDGE OF MEDICAL FACULTY STUDENTS CONCERNING EBOLA IN MALATYA, TURKEY

The purpose of this study was to determine the knowledge levels of Inonu University medical faculty students regarding Ebola. This descriptive, cross sectional study was conducted between November and December, 2014 at Inonu University Medical Faculty. After the researchers performed the literature review, a questionnaire comprising 39 questions was prepared, and the students were asked to fill them out. Nine hundred and eighty-four of 1,298 students (75.8%) participated in the study. Seventy-three point seven percent knew that the Ebola virus disease had high fatality rate, 51.9% of them knew that the primary method of infection was contact with the secretions of dead animals and humans, and 55.2% knew that it was transmitted via the blood of infected animals. The rate of knowing that there was no specific vaccination was 62.1%, while the knowledge that there was no specific treatment was 45.3%; 80.4% knew that all the people entering the patient's room had to wear gloves and liquid-resistant aprons, and 77.3% knew that the number of the staff caring for the patient must be reduced to the minimum level. Three knowledge points were calculated in the study: 'Knowledge Points on Ebola Virus Disease Factor Properties and the Methods of Infection,' 'Ebola Virus Disease Symptom Knowledge Points,' and 'Ebola Virus Disease Protection Knowledge Points.' In terms of these knowledge points, the knowledge levels of the students between the classes were significantly different.