The Effect of Screening Training for Diseases Caused by Environmental and Industrial Pollutants on the Evaluation Scores of Medical Clerkship and Internship

Background: Routine monitoring, identification, early diagnosis and screening of diseases caused by environmental and industrial pollutants by all physicians who will practice in large and polluted cities or areas affected, must be integrated into the theoretical and practical curriculum. Thus, the present study was designed and executed to operationalize and assess the feasibility of this important issue. Methods: The current study employed a single-group pretest-posttest design, and was conducted at Arak Medical school, Iran. Over a period of six months, this study was implemented on 131 community medical clerks and 60 community medical interns during their respective one-month rotations. The study was implemented in four phases: Phase 1, the production of educational content, contains identifying various environmental and industrial pollutants, how these substances cause disease, and the recognition and screening methods for various pollution-related diseases. Phase 2, the production of measurement and evaluation tools. Questionnaires derived from the produced educational contents were designed and constructed in three domains: Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice. Phase 3, Educational interventions for the medical clerks and interns were measured using pretests and posttests administered through questionnaires specific to each group. Following the pretests, at the end of the one-month intervention period, a posttest was administered. Phase 4, the analysis of data was statistically analyzed in two stages, the pretest and the posttest, using the SPSS software version 26. Results: The mean posttest scores of medical clerks compared to their pretest demonstrates a significant increase (P < 0.0001). The comparison of the percentages of correct responses given by medical clerks between the pretest and posttest shows a statistical significance increase (P < 0.0001). The mean posttest scores of medical interns compared to their pretest demonstrates a significant increase (P < 0.0001). The comparison of the percentage of correct responses given by medical interns between the pretest and posttest is statistically significant (P < 0.0001). Conclusions: The necessity of possessing knowledge, skills, and familiarity with the topics related to environmental and industrial pollutants, is felt for future physicians. It is suggested that these topics be included in the medical students' curriculum in a structured and goal-oriented manner.