The Role of Students as Educational Agents

Oct 13, 2025 by thesweetdesigns.com 82 views

The Level of Knowledge of USU Faculty of Medicine Students in the 2017-2019 Class of Chronic Rinosinusitis: Are they ready to face clinical challenges?

Introduction

Chronic rinosinusitis, or often called chronic sinusitis, is a condition of inflammation that occurs in the nasal cavity and paranasal sinus. This condition is characterized by symptoms such as nasal congestion, the discharge of thick yellow or green mucus from the nose, pain or pressure on the face, and a decrease or loss of the ability to smell (anosmia or hyposmia). This symptom must be felt for more than 12 weeks to be categorized as chronic sinusitis. In addition to major symptoms, there are also minor symptoms such as bad breath, fever, headache, tooth pain, and ear pain.

As a prospective doctor, it is essential to understand this disease, given the high prevalence in the community. The Faculty of Medicine, University of North Sumatra (USU) class of 2017-2019 is expected to have a good understanding of chronic rinosinusitis to provide optimal health services for the community. However, the level of knowledge of these students regarding chronic rinosinusitis is still unknown. This study aims to measure the level of knowledge of USU FK students concerning Chronic Rinosinusitis.

Methodology

This research was conducted with a cross-sectional approach, using primary data in the form of a questionnaire distributed to USU FK students. The questionnaire was designed to assess the level of knowledge of students regarding chronic rinosinusitis, including its definition, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.

The Role of Students as Educational Agents

Medical students have a vital role in the dissemination of health information. Their mastery of chronic rinosinusitis can help in patient and family education. By understanding this condition, medical students can provide accurate information to patients and their families, which can lead to better health outcomes.

Awareness of Disease

The results of this study can provide an overview of the level of consciousness of USU FK students against chronic rinosinusitis. This can be used as a basis for the development of more effective educational programs. By identifying the gaps in knowledge, educators can design programs that address these gaps, leading to improved knowledge and skills among students.

Clinical Challenges

Chronic rinosinusitis can be a clinical challenge, especially in terms of diagnosis and treatment. By understanding this condition, medical students can be better prepared to face these challenges in the future. This knowledge can help them to make informed decisions and provide optimal care to patients.

Development of Educational Programs

Data obtained from this study can be a reference for the development of educational programs for USU FK students. The right educational program can help increase student knowledge about chronic rinosinusitis, so they can be more competent in providing health services for patients. This program can include lectures, workshops, and case studies that focus on the diagnosis, treatment, and management of chronic rinosinusitis.

Conclusion

This research is the first step to understand the level of knowledge of USU FK students regarding chronic rinosinusitis. The results of this study are expected to be a reference for the development of more effective educational programs, so that USU FK students can play a more active role in the dissemination of health information and provide optimal health services for the community.

Recommendations

Based on the findings of this study, the following recommendations are made:

Develop educational programs that focus on chronic rinosinusitis, including its definition, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.
Provide opportunities for students to practice their skills in diagnosing and treating chronic rinosinusitis.
Encourage students to participate in case studies and discussions on chronic rinosinusitis.
Provide resources and support for students to access information on chronic rinosinusitis.

Limitations

This study has several limitations, including:

The sample size was limited to USU FK students, which may not be representative of all medical students.
The questionnaire used may not have been comprehensive enough to assess the level of knowledge of students regarding chronic rinosinusitis.
The study did not assess the impact of educational programs on student knowledge and skills.

Future Research

Future research should focus on:

Developing and evaluating educational programs for chronic rinosinusitis.
Assessing the impact of educational programs on student knowledge and skills.
Investigating the factors that influence student knowledge and skills regarding chronic rinosinusitis.

References

[1] American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. (2014). Chronic Rhinosinusitis. Retrieved from https://www.enthealth.org/conditions/chronic-rhinosinusitis/
[2] University of North Sumatra. (2019). Faculty of Medicine. Retrieved from https://www.usu.ac.id/fakultas/medicine/

Note: The references provided are examples and may not be actual references used in the study.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Chronic Rinosinusitis and the Level of Knowledge of USU FK Students

Q: What is chronic rinosinusitis?

A: Chronic rinosinusitis, or often called chronic sinusitis, is a condition of inflammation that occurs in the nasal cavity and paranasal sinus. This condition is characterized by symptoms such as nasal congestion, the discharge of thick yellow or green mucus from the nose, pain or pressure on the face, and a decrease or loss of the ability to smell (anosmia or hyposmia).

Q: What are the symptoms of chronic rinosinusitis?

A: The symptoms of chronic rinosinusitis include:

Nasal congestion
Discharge of thick yellow or green mucus from the nose
Pain or pressure on the face
Decrease or loss of the ability to smell (anosmia or hyposmia)
Bad breath
Fever
Headache
Tooth pain
Ear pain

Q: How long must the symptoms be felt to be categorized as chronic sinusitis?

A: The symptoms must be felt for more than 12 weeks to be categorized as chronic sinusitis.

Q: Why is it essential for medical students to understand chronic rinosinusitis?

A: It is essential for medical students to understand chronic rinosinusitis because it is a common condition that affects many people. By understanding this condition, medical students can provide optimal care to patients and help them manage their symptoms.

Q: What is the role of students as educational agents in the dissemination of health information?

A: Medical students have a vital role in the dissemination of health information. Their mastery of chronic rinosinusitis can help in patient and family education. By understanding this condition, medical students can provide accurate information to patients and their families, which can lead to better health outcomes.

Q: What are the clinical challenges of chronic rinosinusitis?

A: Chronic rinosinusitis can be a clinical challenge, especially in terms of diagnosis and treatment. By understanding this condition, medical students can be better prepared to face these challenges in the future.

Q: What are the recommendations for developing educational programs for USU FK students?

A: The recommendations for developing educational programs for USU FK students include:

Developing educational programs that focus on chronic rinosinusitis, including its definition, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.
Providing opportunities for students to practice their skills in diagnosing and treating chronic rinosinusitis.
Encouraging students to participate in case studies and discussions on chronic rinosinusitis.
Providing resources and support for students to access information on chronic rinosinusitis.

Q: What are the limitations of this study?

A: The limitations of this study include:

The sample size was limited to USU FK students, which may not be representative of all medical students.
The questionnaire used may not have been comprehensive enough to assess the level of knowledge of students regarding chronic rinosinusitis.
The study did not assess the impact of educational programs on student knowledge and skills.

Q: What are the future research directions?

A: The future research directions include:

Developing and evaluating educational programs for chronic rinosinusitis.
Assessing the impact of educational programs on student knowledge and skills.
Investigating the factors that influence student knowledge and skills regarding chronic rinosinusitis.

Q: What are the references used in this study?

A: The references used in this study include:

American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. (2014). Chronic Rhinosinusitis. Retrieved from https://www.enthealth.org/conditions/chronic-rhinosinusitis/
University of North Sumatra. (2019). Faculty of Medicine. Retrieved from https://www.usu.ac.id/fakultas/medicine/

Note: The references provided are examples and may not be actual references used in the study.