Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35144466›Full record

ArticleSouth African family practice : official journal of the South African Academy of Family Practice/Primary Care2022

The knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding family history of hereditary diseases amongst undergraduate students at the University of the Free State.

Lynette J Van der Merwe, Gaby Nel, Caitlin Williams, Swalica Erasmus, Riana Nel, Marize Kolver, Benine Van den Heever, Gina Joubert

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Article in South African family practice : official journal of the South African Academy of Family Practice/Primary Care, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

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3citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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3 · Its place in the literature

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3 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Lynette J Van der MerweUndergraduate Medical Programme Management, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Clinical Medicine, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein. merwelj@ufs.ac.za.
Gaby Nel
Caitlin Williams
Swalica Erasmus
Riana Nel
Marize Kolver
Benine Van den Heever
Gina Joubert

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundFamily medical history may help prevent, diagnose and treat inherited non-communicable diseases. Many people are unaware of family medical history, and medical practitioners may not realise its value when dealing with hereditary diseases. The study aimed to determine the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAPs) regarding family medical history of hereditary diseases amongst undergraduate students at the University of the Free State, Bloemfontein.

methodsA cross-sectional study using a KAP survey was conducted. Questionnaires were distributed electronically to students for voluntary and anonymous completion.

resultsThere were 651 respondents (response rate 3.1%). Most respondents had good knowledge about their family history of hereditary diseases. Significantly more Health Sciences students reported knowing their family medical history. The majority knew that knowledge of hereditary diseases could improve quality of life, that they had a greater chance of being diagnosed if a family member already had the disease, and that lifestyle changes could improve health. Health Sciences students' level of knowledge was higher than that of students from other faculties. At least 95% of students indicated that they would change lifestyle habits to prevent early onset of hereditary disease, but their practices regarding good healthcare were poor. Health Sciences students' practices were significantly better, but less than half of all students had made lifestyle changes or had done screenings based on their family medical history.

conclusionAlthough undergraduate respondents had good knowledge of family medical history and positive attitudes about screening, they did not adapt their practises. Health Sciences students' KAPs reflected the acquisition of core competencies. Institutions could educate students on the importance of early screenings.

Indexed as

Health Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeQuality of LifeCross-Sectional StudiesHumansMedical History TakingStudentsfamily medical historyhereditary diseasesknowledge, attitudes and practiceslifestylenon-communicable diseasesundergraduate students

Identifiers

PMID35144466
PMCPMC8844543

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