Chinese medical students' perceptions of gout: a pilot study

Gout is the most common inflammatory arthritis worldwide, but doctors have a relatively poor understanding of gout that affects optimal management. There is only limited knowledge about medical students' understanding of gout. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate medical students' perceptions of gout and hyperuricemia.

This was a cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study conducted in June 2022 among Chinese medical students, primarily from four colleges in different geographic regions. Participants were asked to complete a 27-question survey on demographics, gout-related perception questions (derived from previous surveys), and attitudes toward gout and its management. Knowledge and perceptions of gout and associated factors were analyzed.

The median score on the 11 gout-related perception questions was 8.0 (interquartile range 6.0-8.0). Medical students showed a relatively high accuracy in identifying the relationship between gout and hyperuricemia, as well as the clinical manifestations of gout. However, their performance varied in questions related to gout management and was notably poor in areas concerning urate-lowering therapy and drug-induced hyperuricemia. Students with clinical exposure, interest in gout-related specialties, or prior interaction with patients with gout or hyperuricemia demonstrated higher perception scores. Additionally, the source of information significantly influenced students' understanding of gout.

Chinese medical students exhibit insufficient understanding of gout and hyperuricemia. Future initiatives to improve gout education should prioritize instruction on urate-lowering therapy and guide students to actively consult clinical guidelines.