Needs assessment study of rare diseases education for nurses and nursing students in Poland

Abstract Background The treatment of rare diseases in contemporary health systems appears to be steadily gaining in importance, especially as the number of their occurrence is increasing. However, the education of medical staff in their correct diagnosis and therapy seems inadequate. Our study aims...

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Main Authors: Dariusz Walkowiak, Jan Domaradzki
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2020-06-01
Series:Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases
Subjects:
Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13023-020-01432-6
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author Dariusz Walkowiak
Jan Domaradzki
author_facet Dariusz Walkowiak
Jan Domaradzki
author_sort Dariusz Walkowiak
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background The treatment of rare diseases in contemporary health systems appears to be steadily gaining in importance, especially as the number of their occurrence is increasing. However, the education of medical staff in their correct diagnosis and therapy seems inadequate. Our study aims to analyze the knowledge and opinions concerning rare diseases among Polish nurses and nursing students. Methods We analyzed a group of 142 nurses and 113 nursing students, using a questionnaire comprising 28 questions about the number, examples, etiology and estimated frequency of rare diseases. Self-assessment of one’s own theoretical and practical competence in the topic, as well as the opinion of the respondents on the need for a more prominent place of rare diseases in the curricula of medical universities, were also tested. We also asked about our informants’ sources of information on rare diseases. The study was conducted between January and June 2019. Results Although only approximately 1 3 $$ \raisebox{1ex}{$1$}\!\left/ \!\raisebox{-1ex}{$3$}\right. $$ rd of respondents declared having participated in university classes in rare diseases, a markedly higher number (~ 85% of nurses and ~ 75% of students) sees the need for such courses. Neither group feels well-prepared to deal with patients with rare diseases, with 75% of nurses and as many as 85% of nursing students expressing their concern in this respect. Both groups name the Internet as their major source of information. Conclusion Both nurses and nursing students show insufficient knowledge of rare diseases, though the level of competence of the former is in many respects higher in a statistically significant way. Most respondents perceive serious deficiencies in their preparation to care for such patients. A change in university curricula seems much called for.
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spelling doaj.art-c7f75942756a4a7593594679b6cc20fa2022-12-22T02:34:02ZengBMCOrphanet Journal of Rare Diseases1750-11722020-06-0115111310.1186/s13023-020-01432-6Needs assessment study of rare diseases education for nurses and nursing students in PolandDariusz Walkowiak0Jan Domaradzki1Department of Medical Law, Organization and Management in Health Care, Poznan University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Social Sciences and Humanities, Poznan University of Medical SciencesAbstract Background The treatment of rare diseases in contemporary health systems appears to be steadily gaining in importance, especially as the number of their occurrence is increasing. However, the education of medical staff in their correct diagnosis and therapy seems inadequate. Our study aims to analyze the knowledge and opinions concerning rare diseases among Polish nurses and nursing students. Methods We analyzed a group of 142 nurses and 113 nursing students, using a questionnaire comprising 28 questions about the number, examples, etiology and estimated frequency of rare diseases. Self-assessment of one’s own theoretical and practical competence in the topic, as well as the opinion of the respondents on the need for a more prominent place of rare diseases in the curricula of medical universities, were also tested. We also asked about our informants’ sources of information on rare diseases. The study was conducted between January and June 2019. Results Although only approximately 1 3 $$ \raisebox{1ex}{$1$}\!\left/ \!\raisebox{-1ex}{$3$}\right. $$ rd of respondents declared having participated in university classes in rare diseases, a markedly higher number (~ 85% of nurses and ~ 75% of students) sees the need for such courses. Neither group feels well-prepared to deal with patients with rare diseases, with 75% of nurses and as many as 85% of nursing students expressing their concern in this respect. Both groups name the Internet as their major source of information. Conclusion Both nurses and nursing students show insufficient knowledge of rare diseases, though the level of competence of the former is in many respects higher in a statistically significant way. Most respondents perceive serious deficiencies in their preparation to care for such patients. A change in university curricula seems much called for.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13023-020-01432-6Rare diseasesMedical educationNursesStudentsSurvey
spellingShingle Dariusz Walkowiak
Jan Domaradzki
Needs assessment study of rare diseases education for nurses and nursing students in Poland
Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases
Rare diseases
Medical education
Nurses
Students
Survey
title Needs assessment study of rare diseases education for nurses and nursing students in Poland
title_full Needs assessment study of rare diseases education for nurses and nursing students in Poland
title_fullStr Needs assessment study of rare diseases education for nurses and nursing students in Poland
title_full_unstemmed Needs assessment study of rare diseases education for nurses and nursing students in Poland
title_short Needs assessment study of rare diseases education for nurses and nursing students in Poland
title_sort needs assessment study of rare diseases education for nurses and nursing students in poland
topic Rare diseases
Medical education
Nurses
Students
Survey
url http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13023-020-01432-6
work_keys_str_mv AT dariuszwalkowiak needsassessmentstudyofrarediseaseseducationfornursesandnursingstudentsinpoland
AT jandomaradzki needsassessmentstudyofrarediseaseseducationfornursesandnursingstudentsinpoland