European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

MEDICAL STUDENTS PERCEPTIONS OF PATHOLOGISTS: FACULTY OF MEDICINE, OMDURMAN ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY, SUDAN

*Azza A. Zulfu, MD, ABAPth and Somya Taha Saleem, MD

ABSTRACT

Background: Pathology is considered as the science behind the cure and pathologists are famous of being the physicians of physicians, despite that no medical speciality has received much misconceptions and myths as pathology. The aim of this study is to investigate the perception of first year medical students at the faculty of medicine (FofM), Omdurman Islamic University(OIU) concerning pathologists. Materials & Methods: 132 students were surveyed through a close constructed questionnaire. Results: 90% of respondents think pathologists have role in patient care, 54% think pathologists have bigger role in patient care, 34% think pathologists have equal patient care roles to other medical doctors. 59%of respondents reported a positive change in perception concerning pathologists by the end of the course. 45% prefer a future career as a pathologist. Conclusion: Students reported overall positive perception of pathologists.

Keywords: Perception, pathologists, FofM, OIU.