gms | German Medical Science

Objective: DBS is a well-established therapy for movement disorders such as dystonia, Parkinson´s disease (PD) and tremor and it is currently under investigation in neuropsychiatric disorders. Little is known about medical students´ knowledge about this powerful tool when they enter university and what they learn about it during their medical formation.

Methods: A 10-item questionnaire with open and closed questions was designed. Questions addressed indications for DBS, its costs, impact on parkinsonian symptoms, complications, battery life, possible targets and percentage of PD patients who might profit from DBS. Students at Hannover Medical School were asked to complete the questionnaire in the preclinical study period and in the next to last year of the study.

Results: The first group included 204 students (duration of study: 3 months) and the “advanced” group comprises 162 students (duration of study: 48-72 months). In group one 63.4% of the students knew that DBS is routinely used in PD patients, 36.6% knew that DBS is a routinely used treatment for tremor and only 10.3% knew that DBS is used in patients with dystonia as compared to the second group whereas 83.3%, 71.5% and 34% of students knew about the routine use of DBS in PD, tremor and dystonia respectively. Outcome after DBS, its costs, the frequency of side effects, and established and future targets were nearly unknown.

Conclusion: DBS is partly known among medical students in the preclinical phase with a moderate gain of knowledge during further study. We advocate to teach students appropriately and to expand clinical knowledge during the clinical phase of medical studies.