Zailan, Nurul Farhana
(2015)
Knowledge and attitudes towards Autism Spectrum
Disorders (ASD) among medical students in Universiti Sains
Malaysia Health Campus.
Project Report.
Pusat Pengajian Sains Kesihatan, Universiti Sains Malaysia.
(Submitted)
Abstract
There is increasing public and professional awareness of autism
spectrum disorders (ASD) with early recognition, diagnosis and interventions
that are known to improve prognosis. Poor knowledge about childhood autism
among undergraduate medical students who are members of multidisciplinary
teams that care for such children may be a major barrier to early interventions
that could improve quality of life and prognosis in ASD. However, factors that
influence knowledge about ASD among undergraduate medical students are
unknown. This study assessed the level of attitude and knowledge about ASD
among undergraduate medical students in University Sains Malaysia Health
Campus, particularly in areas related to speech, language and communication
deficits. A total of 83 medical students from the first year (n=45) and the final
year (n=38) were selected via convenient sampling method. A socio demographic, attitude and knowledge questionnaire about ASD were administered to them and the study was a cross-sectional survey. The findings
showed there was no significant difference in the attitudes levels for the first
year and final year students. However, for knowledge aspect, there was
significant difference for the first year and final year students. The findings could
provide some preliminary information for the local medical and allied health
policy makers and practitioners to identify ways to promote better understanding
of ASD amongst prospective medical doctors and related professionals.
Ultimately, it is hoped that the insight gained could promote better collaboration
between speech-language pathologist and the related professionals working in the field of ASD in Malaysia.
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