Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 12, 2026
Determining Soil-transmitted Helminth Infection Status and Physical Fitness of School-aged Children
Published on: August 22, 2012
Assessment of the Knowledge Levels of University Students in Health Sciences Regarding Parasitic Diseases
Canan Birimoğlu Okuyan1, Fatma Cevahir2
1Sakarya University Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Public Health Nursing, Sakarya, Türkiye.
Objective:
A comprehensive understanding of parasitic diseases, which affect both human and animal health, is crucial for university students in health sciences as they prepare for their future roles as healthcare professionals. This study aims to assess the knowledge levels of university students in health sciences regarding parasitic diseases.
Methods:
This descriptive study was conducted with 498 students from the faculty of health sciences and the vocational school of health services at a state university in the Marmara Region. Data were collected using a questionnaire that included socio-demographic information and questions assessing students' knowledge of parasitic diseases. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 26.0®, with a significance level set at p≤0.05.
Results:
The participants had a mean age of 20.84±2.63 years, and 82.3% were female. A total of 80.9% of the students lived with their parents, and 73.7% reported a moderate family income. Nearly half (44.2%) were first-year students, 30.1% were enrolled in the department of physiotherapy and rehabilitation, and 68.1% resided in state dormitories. Most students (92.4%) recognized the importance of hand hygiene in preventing parasitic diseases, and 71.3% acknowledged that the location of household toilets could contribute to the occurrence of such diseases. However, 70.1% reported not receiving specific training or certification on hygiene. Female students demonstrated the highest awareness of hand hygiene benefits in preventing parasitic infections, while nursing students had the most extensive hygiene training (course/certificate) (p<0.05).
Conclusion:
Our findings indicate that a significant proportion of students lack specialized courses or certifications on hygiene practices and have limited knowledge of parasitic diseases. Therefore, integrating scientific meetings and training sessions on parasitic diseases and preventive measures into the health sciences curriculum is essential.
More Related Videos
04:57Comparative Analysis of Automatic Fecal Analyzer versus Direct Wet Smear Microscopy for Detecting Parasitic Infections in Stool Samples
Published on: April 25, 2025
12:05Mass Isolation and In Vitro Cultivation of Intramolluscan Stages of the Human Blood Fluke Schistosoma Mansoni
Published on: January 14, 2018
Related Concept Videos
01:29Assessment of the Gastrointestinal System II: Health Perception Pattern
Health Perception Patterns
Health perception patterns offer valuable insights into a patient's lifestyle habits and how they may impact their GI health. These patterns include:
01:20Infection
The chain begins with pathogens: bacteria, viruses, fungi, prions, or parasites such as protozoa helminths. These can be present on the skin as transient or resident flora, or they can be acquired from the environment. Identifying and treating the type of infection and...
01:26Levels of Health Promotion and Illness Prevention
In primary prevention, actions taken before disease onset prevent the disease from...
01:27Overview of Protists
01:23Assessment of the Cardiovascular System I: Subjective Data
Initial Enquiry
Ask the patient about their primary concern and thoroughly explore all reported symptoms.
Medical History
Investigate past illnesses affecting the cardiovascular system, such as angina, anemia, rheumatic fever, congenital heart disease, stroke, thrombophlebitis, dysrhythmias, varicosities
Inquire about symptoms...
01:22Healthcare Associated Infections II: Preventive Measures
The best practices for preventing healthcare-associated infections include hand hygiene, patient risk...