Objective: To explore and analyze the perception of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) among medical students.
Methodology: This observational, cross-sectional study was conducted among medical students at Azra Naheed Medical College, Superior University, Lahore from June 2024 to August 2024. A total of 262 students aged 17 to 26 years from all MBBS classes were included. Knee Osteoarthritis Knowledge Scale (KOAKS), an 11-question Likert-scale questionnaire, was used to assess awareness levels. Data were analyzed using SPSS 26, with descriptive statistics and post-stratification Chi-Square tests used to evaluate associations.
Result: The mean age was 21±1.7 years, with 63.7% females. Seventy-six (29.0%) of students reported a family history of knee osteoarthritis. Mean KOAKS score was 35.2±3.9 and 64.1% demonstrated good KOA awareness. The analysis showed no significant association of awareness levels with age (p=0.606), gender (p=0.982), family history (p=0.438) or the year of study (p=0.380).
Conclusion: Medical students exhibited a generally good awareness of KOA, with no significant demographic influences. These results highlight a strong foundation of knowledge that can be further enhanced through targeted educational interventions.
Key words: Osteoarthritis, knee, medical students, Knee Osteoarthritis Knowledge Scale (OAKS).
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