Poor knowledge in Monkeypox among clinical-stage medical students: an assessment of medical student’s knowledge in the epidemiology, transmission, and prevention and management options of Monkeypox in Jordan

Abstract

The worldwide spread of monkeypox has caused an urgent public health concern, emphasizing the importance of early diagnosis, appropriate clinical therapy, and precautionary measures. This study used a cross-sectional online convenience sampling survey to measure medical students' general knowledge of monkeypox in Jordan. 45 questions assessing sociodemographic information, awareness of monkeypox, and behaviors toward the disease were included in the survey that was built on previous studies. 464 medical students participated in the study, with the majority being first-year (71.1%) and female (60.3%). The main components of monkeypox, including prevention, vaccination, therapy, incubation period, and transmission, were poorly understood by students. While clinical-year students revealed better knowledge of vaccination methods and symptom management, basic-year students were more aware of regional prevalence and acute symptoms. Surprisingly, just 5% of participants had participated in monkeypox education programs, while over 70% received their information mostly from social media. The study identified significant gaps in medical students' awareness of monkeypox, highlighting the need for improved instructional materials and medical curricula to address these weaknesses. Strengthening medical students’ weaknesses of monkeypox is critical given the disease’s continued incidence , especially in the Middle East.
Keywords: Monkeypox, medical students, epidemiology