Lucas M. Bachmann|F Gutzwiller|Milo A. Puhan|Johann Steurer|Claudia Steurer?Stey|Gerd Gigerenzer
Do citizens have minimum medical knowledge? A survey
University of Zurich|University of Zurich|University of Zurich|University of Zurich|University Hospital of Zurich|Max Planck Institute for Human Development
experts defined minimum medical knowledge mmk people need understanding typical signs andor risk factors four relevant clinical conditions myocardial infarction stroke chronic obstructive pulmonary disease hivaids tested degree swiss adult citizens satisfy criterion mmk whether people medical experience acquired better knowledge without questionnaire interview swiss urban area 185 swiss citizens median age 29 years interquartile range 23 49 52 male obtained context information age gender highest educational level paramedical background specific health experience one conditions social surrounding calculated proportion mmk examined whether citizens medical background personal professional would perform better compared groups single citizen reached full mmk 100 mean mmk low 32 range 0 72 surprisingly multivariable analysis showed participants university degree n 84 95 ci 37 mmk 0471 p 003 paramedical background n 34 62 mmk 20104 p 0004 personal illness experience n 96 49 mmk 1582 p 0004 moderately higher mmk without age sex effect level mmk interaction university degree clinical experience personal professional showed effect suggesting higher education lacks synergistic effect sample swiss citizens know third mmk found little difference within groups medical experience personal professional suggesting consistent dramatic lack knowledge general public typical signs risk factors relevant clinical conditions