Knowledge and Attitude of Medical Student about Asthma

Introduction: Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease characterized by breathing difficulties, wheezing, and coughing. Effective asthma management requires adequate knowledge and a positive attitude, especially from future healthcare providers such as medical students. This study aims to evaluate the knowledge and attitudes of medical students in Indonesia regarding bronchial asthma and to analyze the relationship between these factors and variables such as academic level and personal history of asthma.

Methods: This study employed a descriptive cross-sectional design. A total of 146 medical students who had completed the cardiopulmonary block from various institutions across Indonesia participated. Data were collected through an online questionnaire consisting of 13 questions assessing knowledge and 11 questions evaluating attitudes towards asthma. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and bivariate tests to identify relationships between variables.

Results: A total of 53.43% of respondents had fairly good knowledge and 46.57% had poor knowledge. Meanwhile, 45.27% showed an unfavorable attitude and 53.37% showed a fairly good attitude towards asthma. Higher academic levels were correlated with better knowledge. 

Conclusion: The findings indicate that most medical students have adequate knowledge and attitude of asthma. However, there are still deficiencies in knowledge and attitudes among among early-year students. Enhancing curricula and increasing practical exposure to asthma cases could better prepare students for effective asthma management in the future.