Assessment of knowledge concerning urology among medical students in Poland.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Urological diseases represent a significant health issue worldwide. Presented study aimed at assessing current urological knowledge and confidence in performing urological diagnostic and therapeutic procedures among medical students at Jagiellonian University Medical College in Poland and compare it on different stages of the undergraduate medical education. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We designed an anonymous survey distributed among Polish students from 1st to 6th year of medical studies, before and after clinical urology course. Questions concerned general urological knowledge, prostate diseases, erectile dysfunction, and self-reported practical urological skills. RESULTS: Overall, 437 respondents participated in the survey. Mean total test score in our study group was 50.08%, mean general urological knowledge score was 53.44%, mean prostate diseases knowledge score was 55.43%, mean erectile dysfunction score was 36% and mean practical skills score was 45.83%. Mean total test score increased with consecutive years of studies (R = 0.58; p <0.001). The risk of an above average total test score was significantly influenced by the urology course (OR = 7.95, 95%CI = 1.81-34.84, p = 0.006) and the year of medical studies (4th-6th vs. 1st-3rd) (OR = 5.16, 95%CI = 3.41-7.81, p <0.001). Practical skills score above average was significantly more frequent in the group after the urology course (OR = 6.75, 95%CI = 1.54-29.58, p = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS: Results of this study reveal low mean scores obtained by students, even after completing the urology course, which implies that curriculum requires further development. Urological knowledge and self-assessed practical skills increased with years of medical education. The urology course improved the score obtained in our survey, both in terms of total test score and practical skills.

BODY SOMATIC TYPE INFLUENCE ON THE SPINAL CURVATURES IN EARLY AGE SCHOOL CHILDREN: PRELIMINARY REPORT.

INTRODUCTION: Sedentary lifestyle and its consequences are becoming a serious problem not only among the elderly but also relate to children. Reduced muscle mass, disorder of normal spinal curves or problems related to the percentage of body fat are part of physical activity limitation. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between somatic type of the body and spinal curvatures in school children. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study included 94 randomly selected children from 1-3 elementary schools grades, 49 girls and 45 boys. The subjects were divided into 3 groups: a group of children with a BMI indicating underweight (BMI <14.5, n=25), a group of children with normal BMI (BMI = 14.5-17.5, n = 33) and children BMI indicating overweight (BMI > 17.5, n = 36). The Posturometr-S was a device used for measurement and evaluation of the formation of the spine in the sagittal plane. There were three angles of inclination of anterior-posterior curvature of the spine identified: the α angle-upper thoracic spine, the ß angle-thoraco-lumbar spine and the γ angle-lumbosacral spine. RESULTS: Analysing the results of the different angles of curvature of the spine in the sagittal plane we can notice a statistically significant difference between the groups only in the a angle. CONCLUSION: The own investigations have showed that the somatic type of the body does not affect the shape of the spine in school children assessed using Posturometr-S. Ther investigations are needed.