What Do Medical Students Know about Deep Brain Stimulation?

Knowledge and Perception Toward Neuromodulation Devices Among Medical Students at Umm Al-Qura University

Introduction Neurologic and psychiatric disorders affect many people worldwide and are crucial to medical care. It is crucial to note that primary care doctors initially evaluate patients who will eventually require neuromodulation (NM) therapy. There is a growing concern about the extent of medical students' knowledge regarding NM therapy. Insufficient education and limited exposure of future doctors to different treatment approaches can limit their ability to refer patients promptly and appropriately, thereby impeding access to necessary treatment. Methods The study employed a non-probability stratified snowball sampling technique to recruit participants. The population consisted of undergraduate medical students (excluding interns) at Umm Al-Qura University (UQU) in Saudi Arabia. Data collection was conducted through an online questionnaire. Results The sample comprised 301 medical students, with an average age of 21.62±1.54 years (ranging from 18 to 25). The majority were female (65.1%), and in the clinical years (57.8%), a considerable portion of respondents (57.5%) lacked awareness that NM devices are approved by the FDA for treatment. Both pre-clinical and clinical-year students exhibited insufficient knowledge (91.3% and 91.4%, respectively). Females showed a higher proportion (95.9%) of poor attitudes toward NM compared to males (83.8%). Notably, preclinical students showed a higher level of knowledge (11.0%) compared to clinical students (6.3%). Conclusions The study revealed a significant lack of knowledge among medical students regarding NM devices. This is concerning given the growing prevalence of NM devices in clinical practice. To ensure optimal patient care, it is crucial to provide comprehensive education on NM devices to medical students.

Assessment of Knowledge and Perception Regarding Deep Brain Stimulation Among Medical Students in Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND

 Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a neurosurgical procedure approved for treating psychiatric and movement disorders, including Parkinson's disease (PD), essential tremor, dystonia, and other neurological conditions. The widespread use of DBS may not be reflected in the medical education curricula in Saudi universities, thus jeopardizing future patients' access to it. This study aims to investigate the knowledge and attitudes of medical students toward DBS as a therapeutic option.

METHOD

A descriptive cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted. The survey was distributed on online platforms to acquire responses from different regions of Saudi Arabia. The target population was medical students in the preclinical and clinical phases of medical education from different regions of Saudi Arabia.

RESULTS

A total of 1075 medical students from various medical schools in Saudi Arabia were included. More than half of the students aged 21 to 23 (50.1%) were females (63.2%). More than half of the students have correctly recognized DBS as a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved treatment (59.7%). Only 20.1% of the students stated that they received adequate education/training about DBS. About 53.8% of the students had self-rated their knowledge as poor, whereas 20.6% had rated their knowledge as good. A negative bias was more observed among the older students and students with a family history of DBS treatment. Half of the participants (54.1%) indicated that DBS is associated with severe adverse effects. A significant association between the level of knowledge about DBS and the academic level was observed.

CONCLUSION

Almost half of the medical students had poor knowledge and unfavorable attitude toward DBS in Saudi Arabia. The current medical curricula are incommensurable with the clinical implications of DBS, which may deny future patients from such an effective therapeutic option. We recommend incorporating DBS teaching sessions to enhance future physicians' awareness and understanding of the benefits of this intervention.

Medical Students' Knowledge and Perception of Deep Brain Stimulation

BACKGROUND

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a well-established neurosurgical procedure commonly used in movement and psychiatric disorders. Its widespread clinical implementation, however, may not be commensurate with medical education. No current assessment of medical student's understanding of DBS as a treatment option for indicated conditions is available, potentially threatening the availability of DBS to future patients. The aim of the present study is to explore the current knowledge and attitudes of medical students toward DBS as a treatment modality.

METHODS

A total of 65 medical students at Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine were surveyed regarding their knowledge of DBS. The survey consisted of a 25-item questionnaire including a demographic section and 3 separate inventories designed to assess bias, knowledge, and self-assessment of knowledge specific to DBS therapy. Students in pre-clinical and clinical years were analyzed separately to describe changes in knowledge or attitude associated with clinical exposure to DBS. Comparisons were analyzed using t tests, ANOVA, and Pearson correlations.

RESULTS

Of surveyed students, 36% were unsure of the FDA approval status of DBS treatment; 65% of students believed they had not been adequately educated about DBS and its utility; and 10.6% of students believed that DBS is likely associated with severe adverse effects and/or brain damage. The overall baseline attitudes of students toward DBS were positive. There was no observed difference between surveyed pre-clinical and clinical students, highlighting a lack of exposure throughout the clinical years of medical school education.

CONCLUSION

Although DBS is an effective treatment modality for various conditions, current education is non-commensurate with its application, which can negatively impact awareness and understanding for its implications by medical professionals. In order to better serve patients who may benefit from DBS, medical curricula must change to educate future physicians on the benefit of this intervention.