Skip to main content
Top
Published in: Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases 1/2022

Open Access 01-12-2022 | Research

Iranian future healthcare professionals' knowledge and opinions about rare diseases: cross-sectional study

Authors: Reza Jahanshahi, Amirreza Nasirzadeh, Mahan Farzan, Jan Domaradzki, Leila Jouybari, Akram Sanagoo, Mahour Farzan, Komeil Aghazadeh-Habashi, Ahmadreza Fallah Faraghe, Sadegh Bagheri, Marziyeh Samiee, Arina Ansari, Kimia Eskandari, Negar Namakkoobi, Fatemeh Soltanimoghadam, Hadi Mashali, Erfan Yavari, Saba Bay, Nafiseh Memaripanah, Elahe Meftah, Saeed Amanzadeh, Fatemeh Talati, Sasan Bahramzadeh

Published in: Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases | Issue 1/2022

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

Rare diseases are a new global health priority, requiring evidence-based estimates of the global prevalence of diseases to inform public policymakers and provide a serious challenge to the healthcare system that must not be ignored. The purpose of this study is to investigate Iranian future healthcare professionals' knowledge and opinions about rare diseases.

Results

A total of 6838 students responded to the questionnaire. Nursing and medical students had the highest participation. Almost 85% of participants rated their knowledge about rare diseases as poor or insufficient. While nearly 70 percent of participants took courses about rare diseases at university. Finally, 72.7% of future healthcare professionals did not feel ready to take care of a patient with a rare disease.

Conclusion

The present study has indicated a gap in Iranian medical students’ knowledge of rare diseases. The researchers believe that health science policymakers should make a joint effort to improve knowledge about rare diseases. Including courses with regard to rare diseases would be of benefit to future healthcare professionals.
Literature
1.
12.
go back to reference Beaton DE, Bombardier C, Guillemin F, Ferraz MB. Guidelines for the process of cross-cultural adaptation of self-report measures. Spine. 2000;25(24):3186–91.CrossRef Beaton DE, Bombardier C, Guillemin F, Ferraz MB. Guidelines for the process of cross-cultural adaptation of self-report measures. Spine. 2000;25(24):3186–91.CrossRef
13.
go back to reference Hajizadeh E, Asghari M. Methods and statistical analyzes by looking at the research method in the life sciences and health sciences,. Tehran: Publishing Co., Jihad University; 2015. Hajizadeh E, Asghari M. Methods and statistical analyzes by looking at the research method in the life sciences and health sciences,. Tehran: Publishing Co., Jihad University; 2015.
14.
go back to reference Lawshe CH. A quantitative approach to content validity. Pers Psychol. 1975;28(4):563–75.CrossRef Lawshe CH. A quantitative approach to content validity. Pers Psychol. 1975;28(4):563–75.CrossRef
15.
go back to reference Polit DF, Beck CT. The content validity index: are you sure you know what’s being reported? Critique and recommendations. Res Nurs Health. 2006;29(5):489–97.CrossRef Polit DF, Beck CT. The content validity index: are you sure you know what’s being reported? Critique and recommendations. Res Nurs Health. 2006;29(5):489–97.CrossRef
16.
go back to reference Jonas K, Waligóra M, Hołda M, Sulicka-Grodzicka J, Strach M, Podolec P, et al. Knowledge of rare diseases among health care students–the effect of targeted education. Przegl Epidemiol. 2017;71(1):80–9.PubMed Jonas K, Waligóra M, Hołda M, Sulicka-Grodzicka J, Strach M, Podolec P, et al. Knowledge of rare diseases among health care students–the effect of targeted education. Przegl Epidemiol. 2017;71(1):80–9.PubMed
17.
go back to reference Alam T, Hameed A, Naveed S, Sharif N. Rare diseases: awareness amongst pharmacy students in Karachi, Pakistan. RADS-JPPS. 2016;4(1):96–101. Alam T, Hameed A, Naveed S, Sharif N. Rare diseases: awareness amongst pharmacy students in Karachi, Pakistan. RADS-JPPS. 2016;4(1):96–101.
23.
go back to reference McKay L. From amyloidosis to Zellweger syndrome: how can the medical education system include thousands of rare diseases? NZMSJ. 2019;29:7–10. McKay L. From amyloidosis to Zellweger syndrome: how can the medical education system include thousands of rare diseases? NZMSJ. 2019;29:7–10.
Metadata
Title
Iranian future healthcare professionals' knowledge and opinions about rare diseases: cross-sectional study
Authors
Reza Jahanshahi
Amirreza Nasirzadeh
Mahan Farzan
Jan Domaradzki
Leila Jouybari
Akram Sanagoo
Mahour Farzan
Komeil Aghazadeh-Habashi
Ahmadreza Fallah Faraghe
Sadegh Bagheri
Marziyeh Samiee
Arina Ansari
Kimia Eskandari
Negar Namakkoobi
Fatemeh Soltanimoghadam
Hadi Mashali
Erfan Yavari
Saba Bay
Nafiseh Memaripanah
Elahe Meftah
Saeed Amanzadeh
Fatemeh Talati
Sasan Bahramzadeh
Publication date
01-12-2022
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases / Issue 1/2022
Electronic ISSN: 1750-1172
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13023-022-02458-8

Other articles of this Issue 1/2022

Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases 1/2022 Go to the issue