Epidemiology of viral hepatitis in Germany - An unknown field for medical students

Mainly due to viral hepatitis the probability of getting infected during daily clinical work rises up, also with the consequences of chronic hepatitis. For preventing infections in Germany it is necessary to evaluate, how medical students are informed about the epidemiology of viral hepatitis and hepatocirrhosis. Because of doing practical training in he hospital medical students are at risk of getting infected with hepatitis, and not later than after finishing their studies they are forced to diagnose viral hepatitis properly. The following study analysed the estimation by medical students (n = 410) of viral hepatitis incidence and hepatocirrhosis-mortality in Germany many. It becomes obvious, that medical students still have gaps in their knowledge about hepatic diseases. They underestimated the incidence of viral hepatitis and they overestimated the mortality of hepatocirrhosis. The study indicates a perception bias for infection diseases which maybe due to the curriculum at Medical School. Medical students need, more information and counselling about epidemiology of infectious diseases and viral hepatitis.