Do our Students Know About Acne: A Cross Sectional Study from King Edward Medical University, Lahore

Aim: To assess the knowledge of AHS and Nursing students of KEMU regarding acne. Method: A cross-sectional study in 100 AHS and nursing students was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire. Result: Of the 100 respondents, 85% considered frequent face washing as effective treatment, whereas 93% students considered taking into account consultant's opinion. Regarding causative agent, 94% students believed that hormones are responsible while only 9% considered it hereditary. Students considered oily skin (90%) as the most important aggravating factor. Contrary to literature, Diet (87%) and poor hygiene (87%) were considered important aggravating factors, which highlights students' ignorance. The greatest psychosocial effect entailed was embarrassment (64%). Online resources and educational texts were the main sources contributing to students' knowledge. Conclusion: Results of this study not only pointed out the misconceptions of students but also depicted their outdated knowledge. It unveiled that a quarter of them didn't opt for treatment which is troublesome. Hence health education programs on acne should be incorporated in policy making not only to improve students' knowledge but to also satisfy patients in primary and secondary levels without burdening tertiary care.