Medical students' knowledge about autonomic dysreflexia in persons with spinal cord injury

Autonomna disrefleksija (AD) sindrom je koji se javlja kod osoba sa visokom lezijom oštećenja kralježnične moždine (OKM). Zbog aktivacije simpatičkoga sustava štetnom noksom ispod lezije ozljede dolazi do porasta arterijskog krvnog tlaka. Posljedično može doći do kardiovaskularnih, cerebrovaskularnih komplikacija i/ili smrti. Zbog ozbiljnosti sindroma cilj našeg istraživanja bio je utvrditi nivo znanja studenata o autonomnoj disrefleksiji. Istraživanje je bilo provedeno na Medicinskom fakultetu u Rijeci među studentima šeste godine Integriranoga preddiplomskog i diplomskog studija medicine. Istraživanje je provedeno putem ankete koja se sastojala od općeg demografskog dijela i specifičnog testa znanja o AD. Sudjelovalo je ukupno 62 ispitanika od toga je 74% ispitanika svoje znanje ocijenilo kao»osrednje« ili »slabo«, dok su na testu znanja prikupili prosječno 10,35 bodova od mogućih 22 boda. Znanje o autonomnoj disrefleksiji studenata završne godine Medicinskog fakulteta nije zadovoljavajuće. Neophodno je uvođenje edukacije o AD tijekom studija medicine kako bi se steklo adekvatno znanje o prepoznavanju i liječenju osoba s epizodom AD.Autonomnic dysreflexia (AD) is a syndrome that occurs in persons with high lesion of spinal cord injury (SCI). Due to the activation of the sympathic system triggered by noxious stimulus below the level of the lesion injury, it comes to increasing of arterial blood pressure.Consequently, there may occur cardivascular, cerebrovascular complications and/or even death. Because of the syndrome serverity, the aim of our research was to determine the degree of students knowledge about autonomnic dysreflexia. The research was conducted at the Faculty of Medicine in Rijeka among the studenst of the sixth year of Integrated Pre-graduate and Graduate Medical Studies. The reserch was conducted through a survey that consists of a general demographic part an specific knowledge about AD. Number of respondents who participated was 62 of whom 74 % rated their knowledge as " medium" or "weak", while on the test of knowledge they collected an average of 10,35 points, out of the possible 22 points. Student's knowledge about autonomnic dysreflexia at the Faculty of Medicine's final year is not satisfying. It is necessary to introduce AD education during medical studies in order to gain adequate knowledge about the recognition and treatment of persons with AD episode