The Importance of Knowledge about Chronic Kidney Disease

Oct 13, 2025 by windailys.com 67 views

Overview of Student Knowledge Levels - Students of the Faculty of Medicine, University of North Sumatra, the first year and the second year of chronic kidney disease

Chronic kidney disease (PGK) is one of the serious global health problems, with around 1.2 million people in the world dying due to this disease in 2015. The main causes of increasing the incidence of PGK, especially in low and middle income countries, are rapid urbanization, lifestyle changes, and lack of knowledge about health. In the Indonesian context, the highest prevalence of PGK is found in individuals who do not have or have not received formal education. This shows that the level of education is very influential on a person's ability to understand health information.

The Importance of Knowledge about Chronic Kidney Disease

Changes in lifestyle, such as high calorie and sodium diet and reduced physical activity, are a risk factor that contributes to diabetes, hypertension, and vascular disease, which can all trigger PGK. Therefore, it is essential to increase awareness and knowledge about PGK to improve health behavior and effectiveness of the management of this disease. By understanding the level of knowledge of students and students of the Faculty of Medicine, University of North Sumatra (USU), it is expected to identify further educational needs in the context of kidney health.

This study aims to analyze the level of knowledge of students and students of the Faculty of Medicine, University of North Sumatra (USU) regarding chronic kidney disease in the first and second years. By understanding their level of knowledge, it is expected to identify further educational needs in the context of kidney health.

This study was conducted by the cross-sectional method. The population studied was the first and second year of the USU Faculty of Medicine, with sampling using stratified random sampling techniques. A total of 84 respondents were involved, and data were analyzed using univariate analysis to describe the general description of knowledge and bivariate analysis with the chi-square test to determine the relationship between variables.

From this study, it was found that the average level of knowledge of the USU Faculty of Medicine students was sufficient, with a percentage of 63.34%. Knowledge of the second year of students shows better results, with 52.4% has sufficient knowledge. Meanwhile, the first year students showed that 45.2% were in the lack of knowledge in terms of knowledge about PGK.

The results of this study illustrate that although the knowledge of the USU Faculty of Medicine students was at a sufficient level, there was still room for improvement, especially among the first year students. Factors that influence differences in knowledge between the first year and the second year may be caused by different learning experiences. The second year students have received more material and learning related to health, including PGK, compared to the first year students.

This increase in knowledge is very important, because good information about PGK can change students' behavior towards their own health and the general public. Therefore, educational institutions, including the Faculty of Medicine, need to develop a better curriculum and health education programs that can increase student awareness and knowledge about PGK and related risk factors.

Overall, this study provides an important initial picture of students' knowledge about chronic kidney disease, which can be the basis for further education intervention in increasing health awareness among medical students in Indonesia.

Based on the findings of this study, the following recommendations are made:

Educational institutions, including the Faculty of Medicine, need to develop a better curriculum and health education programs that can increase student awareness and knowledge about PGK and related risk factors.
The Faculty of Medicine should provide more opportunities for students to learn about PGK and related risk factors, such as through guest lectures, workshops, and field trips.
The Faculty of Medicine should also provide opportunities for students to engage in community-based projects that focus on health education and awareness about PGK.

This study has several limitations, including:

The study only included students from the Faculty of Medicine, University of North Sumatra, and may not be generalizable to other populations.
The study only measured knowledge about PGK and did not assess other factors that may influence health behavior, such as attitudes and beliefs.

Future research should focus on:

Conducting a longitudinal study to assess changes in knowledge and attitudes about PGK over time.
Conducting a study to assess the effectiveness of different educational interventions on knowledge and attitudes about PGK.
Conducting a study to assess the relationship between knowledge and attitudes about PGK and health behavior.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Student Knowledge Levels - Students of the Faculty of Medicine, University of North Sumatra, the first year and the second year of chronic kidney disease

Q: What is chronic kidney disease (PGK)?

A: Chronic kidney disease (PGK) is one of the serious global health problems, with around 1.2 million people in the world dying due to this disease in 2015. It is a condition where the kidneys are damaged and cannot function properly, leading to a buildup of waste products in the body.

Q: What are the main causes of increasing the incidence of PGK?

A: The main causes of increasing the incidence of PGK, especially in low and middle income countries, are rapid urbanization, lifestyle changes, and lack of knowledge about health.

Q: What is the relationship between education and knowledge about PGK?

A: The level of education is very influential on a person's ability to understand health information. In the Indonesian context, the highest prevalence of PGK is found in individuals who do not have or have not received formal education.

Q: What are the risk factors that contribute to PGK?

A: Changes in lifestyle, such as high calorie and sodium diet and reduced physical activity, are a risk factor that contributes to diabetes, hypertension, and vascular disease, which can all trigger PGK.

Q: What is the purpose of this study?

A: This study aims to analyze the level of knowledge of students and students of the Faculty of Medicine, University of North Sumatra (USU) regarding chronic kidney disease in the first and second years.

Q: What methodology was used in this study?

A: This study was conducted by the cross-sectional method. The population studied was the first and second year of the USU Faculty of Medicine, with sampling using stratified random sampling techniques.

Q: What were the results of this study?

A: From this study, it was found that the average level of knowledge of the USU Faculty of Medicine students was sufficient, with a percentage of 63.34%. Knowledge of the second year of students shows better results, with 52.4% has sufficient knowledge. Meanwhile, the first year students showed that 45.2% were in the lack of knowledge in terms of knowledge about PGK.

Q: What are the implications of this study?

A: This increase in knowledge is very important, because good information about PGK can change students' behavior towards their own health and the general public. Therefore, educational institutions, including the Faculty of Medicine, need to develop a better curriculum and health education programs that can increase student awareness and knowledge about PGK and related risk factors.

Q: What are the recommendations of this study?

A: Based on the findings of this study, the following recommendations are made:

Educational institutions, including the Faculty of Medicine, need to develop a better curriculum and health education programs that can increase student awareness and knowledge about PGK and related risk factors.
The Faculty of Medicine should provide more opportunities for students to learn about PGK and related risk factors, such as through guest lectures, workshops, and field trips.
The Faculty of Medicine should also provide opportunities for students to engage in community-based projects that focus on health education and awareness about PGK.

Q: What are the limitations of this study?

A: This study has several limitations, including:

The study only included students from the Faculty of Medicine, University of North Sumatra, and may not be generalizable to other populations.
The study only measured knowledge about PGK and did not assess other factors that may influence health behavior, such as attitudes and beliefs.

Q: What are the future research directions?

A: Future research should focus on:

Conducting a longitudinal study to assess changes in knowledge and attitudes about PGK over time.
Conducting a study to assess the effectiveness of different educational interventions on knowledge and attitudes about PGK.
Conducting a study to assess the relationship between knowledge and attitudes about PGK and health behavior.