Endocrine Abstracts

JOINT911

Introduction and Aim: Approximately 70%of people with PCOS are undiagnosed. The aim was to study the knowledge of PCOS among medical students.

Materials and Methods: It was a cross-sectional study by questionnaire method. The research involved survey consisting of 15questions, first9 questions were about the definition, symptoms and the diagnostic criteria of PCOS; the second part was about the student’s experience and opinion. The sample size was 17 students(14 females and 3males) from international faculty of general medicine (4-5courses) 20-25years old with BMI between 23,5 and 32,5kg/m².

Results: In “What is PCOS from your point of view?”,58,8%answered that is a disease, the other answered that PCOS is an ultrasound diagnosed symptom. In “What is the correct definition for PCOS?” there were significant debate about the convenient definition:29,4%(5students) chose that it is reproductive disorder, 35,3 (n = 6) answered it’s a metabolic disorder, and the rest chose none of the above choices. In “What is the most affected age?” most of the students answered18-38. Coming “How can you tell ovulation had happened?” 47,1%(8students) answered that by hormonal changes and ultrasound, 29,4%(n = 5) chose by mood swings and feelings, however the rest confirmed that test is the one to know if ovulation had happened. There was similar answer in “Gallwey Score is used to test?” most of them had confirmed that they had never heard about it. Majority had answered that dysmenorrhea is the needed criteria to diagnose PCOS, only 17,7%(3students) chose that infertility and psychosexual dysfunction is the needed one. It was a popular opinion the female should be treated from PCOS despite of her planning pregnancy, so 64,7% (11students) chose that any female who has dysmenorrhea should be suspected with PCOS. Question10 was only for females, if they use any application to check their menstrual cycle, however in answering question 4about the normal cycle length all had the same answer21-35. Most the students confirmed that the female should check her hormone levels every3 months. Apparently, most of them think that PCOD(disorder) is different from PCOS(syndrome). There was difference in opinions about who should treat PCOS:58,8%(n = 10)chose gynecologist,23,5(n = 4) added their own opinion and the others chose the endocrinologist.

Conclusion: The most of the female students use menstrual calendar, however they didn’t know what is the normal cycle length. Although every one of the medical students had different point of view and thoughts about the best treatment for PCOS, but all had confirmed that PCOS is a huge misunderstanding topic.