A Study of Assessment of Knowledge of Childhood Autism among Medical Students in Mumbai

AIMS: This study is to study the knowledge and awareness on autism among medical students and the factors which impact their knowledge on autism. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: For the study, a multicenter cross-sectional research has been carried out among medical students in seven medical colleges in Mumbai. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 201 final-year medical students from seven medical colleges in Mumbai completed the knowledge on childhood autism among healthcare workers (KCAHW) survey and a semi-structured pro forma. Of the 201 students, 152 are from the public medical colleges and 37 from the private medical colleges. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Data collected have been represented in the form of frequency and percentage. SPSS 20.0 is used to analyze the mean distribution of KCAHW scores. A value of P < 0.05 is regarded as statistically significant. RESULTS: The total mean score in the KCAHW questionnaire is 11.85 ± 3.15 out of 19. This is considered as poor knowledge. Our study reveals that students’ knowledge on autism is limited. Knowledge gaps identified in certain autism spectrum disorder (ASD) symptoms are associated with the obsessive and compulsive repetitive pattern of behavior and that autism is associated with epilepsies. CONCLUSIONS: It is thus important that these children displaying ASD symptoms are diagnosed correctly and at the earliest. To enable this, doctors in all fields must be able to accurately identify the diagnostic features of autism both within and outside the four walls of the hospital.