[01] Audrey Lee Sue Ann, Faculty of Medicine, Manipal University College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Melaka, Malaysia. [02] Thurkaishalini Raman, Faculty of Medicine, Manipal University College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Melaka, Malaysia. [03] Sharimini Muniandi, Faculty of Medicine, Manipal University College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Melaka, Malaysia. [04] Tirunavukarasu Rajaretnam, Faculty of Medicine, Manipal University College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Melaka, Malaysia.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine disorder which affects the adolescent girls. In PCOS, woman’s hormones are out of balance. If it’s not treated over time it can lead to serious health conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease. Early diagnosis is necessary for advanced interventions to minimize the immediate and chronic consequences. This study is to assess the knowledge and awareness of PCOS among medical students in Manipal University College Malaysia (MUCM). A cross-sectional study was conducted on undergraduate medical students of Manipal University College Malaysia (MUCM). The sampling method used was purposive sampling. A validated questionnaire was taken from previous studies and was distributed to the sample via electronic survey form. The students were asked to respond to the questionnaire in terms of yes/no/I don’t know format depending on the personal extent. The analysis included frequency, percentages, mean, standard deviation, 95% CI and p value with the level of significance of 5%. Unpaired T-test, Chi square test and ANOVA test were used in data analysis. The electronic questionnaire consisting of 43 questions was given out to the medical students of Manipal University College Malaysia (MUCM) and a total of 140 responses were received. A total of 140 responses were received with a mean age of 21.4. Finding revealed that 87.1% of participants have heard of PCOS and 63.5% have high level of awareness about this syndrome. However, only 17.1% participants have good knowledge regarding PCOS. The study found association between age, gender and education with both awareness and knowledge of PCOS. Participant age 22 and above, female and those in clinical phase of education are found to have higher level or awareness and knowledge regarding PCOS. The present study is only an initial step to evaluate the knowledge and awareness of PCOS among the medical students. Future research may enlarge on this topic in several directions such as more in-depth studies are needed to determine the relations between this syndrome and other factors for treatment services and management for individuals with PCOS which benefit both the future doctors and the patient.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), Knowledge, Awareness, Medical Student, Cross-sectional Study, Malaysia

[01] Jalilian A, Kiani F, Sayehmiri F, Savehmiri K, Khodaee Z, Akbari M. Prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome and its associated complications in Iranian women: A meta-analysis. Iran J Reprod Med. 2015; 13 (10): 591-604. [02] Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) [Internet]. WebMD. 2021 [cited 3 July 2021]. Available from: https://www.webmd.com/women/what-is-pcos [03] Norman RJ, Dewailly D, Legro RS, Hickey TE. Polycystic ovary syndrome. The Lancet. 2007 Aug 25; 370 (9588): 685-97. [04] Palomba S, Santagni S, Falbo A, et al. Complications and challenges associated with polycystic ovary syndrome: current perspectives. Int J Womens Health. 2015; 7: 745–63. [05] Neven ACH, Laven J, Teede HJ, Boyle JA. A summary on polycystic ovary syndrome: Diagnostic criteria, prevalence, clinical manifestations, and management according to the latest international guidelines. Semin Reprod Med. 2018; 36 (1): 5–12. [06] Teede HJ, Misso ML, Costello MF, Dokras A, Laven J, Moran L, et al. Recommendations from the international evidence-based guideline for the assessment and management of polycystic ovary syndrome. Fertil Steril. 2018; 110 (3): 364–79. [07] Bulsara JP, Patel P, Soni A, Acharya S. A review on brief insight into Polycystic Ovarian syndrome. Endocrine and Metabolic Science. 2021 Feb 10: 100085. [08] Liu J, Wu Q, Hao Y, Jiao M, Wang X, Jiang S, Han L. Measuring the global disease burden of polycystic ovary syndrome in 194 countries: Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. Human Reproduction. 2021 Apr; 36 (4): 1108-19. [09] Dashti S, Abdul Hamid H, Mohamad Saini S, Shah Abu Bakar A, Binti Sabri NA, Ismail M, Jafarzadeh Esfehani A. Prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome among Malaysian female university staff. Journal of Midwifery and Reproductive Health. 2019; 7 (1): 1560-8. [10] Rao M, Broughton KS, LeMieux MJ. Cross-sectional study on the knowledge and prevalence of PCOS at a multiethnic university. Prog Prev Med (N Y). 2020; 5 (2): e0028. [11] Patel J, Rai S. Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) awareness among young women of central India. Int J Reprod Contracept Obstet Gynecol. 2018; 7 (10): 3960. [12] Ahmadieh H, Aboudib K, Dassouki W, Charbaji L, El-Dassouki MAA, Khalaf IA. Health awareness of polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and its complications in Lebanon: A cross-sectional study [Internet]. 2021 [cited 2021 Jul 3]. Available from: https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-395164/v1 [13] Upadhye JJ, Shembekar CA. Awareness of PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) in adolescent and young girls. Int J Reprod Contracept Obstet Gynecol. 2017; 6 (6): 2297. [14] Piltonen TT, Ruokojärvi M, Karro H, Kujanpää L, Morin-Papunen L, Tapanainen JS, Stener-Victorin E, Sundrström-Poromaa I, Hirschberg AL, Ravn P, Glintborg D. Awareness of polycystic ovary syndrome among obstetrician-gynecologists and endocrinologists in Northern Europe. PLoS One. 2019 Dec 26; 14 (12): e0226074. [15] Vaithy. k A, Samal R, Shanmugasamy K, Umadevi K R, Knowledge, attitude and awareness towardspolycystic ovarian syndrome among women of south east coastal population of India. IP J Diagn Pathol Oncol 2020; 5 (2): 215-219. [16] Mazia F, Fannana T. KNOWLEDGE AND AWARENESS OF POLY CYSTIC OVARIAN SYNDROME AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN NARAYANGONJ [Internet]. [Dhaka, Bangladesh]: East West University; Available from: http://dspace.ewubd.edu:8080/bitstream/handle/123456789/2652/Farhana_Mazia.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y [17] David Machin, Michael Campbell, Peter Fayers, Alain Pinol, Sample size tables for clinical studies, 2nd edition, Blackwell Science, Oxford, 1997. [18] Sunanda B, Nayak S. A Study to Assess the Knowledge Regarding PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) among Nursing Students at NUINS. Journal of Health and Allied Sciences NU. 2016 Sep; 6 (03): 24-6. [19] Rajkumari P, Sahoo J, Sujata P, Sahoo G, Hansa J. Awareness about PCOS and the Likelihood of its Symptoms in Adolescent Girls in a Semi-Urban Set-Up: A Cross Sectional Study. Journal of Medical Science & Clinical Research. 2016; 4 (11): 12264-9. [20] Tahir H, Hassan A, Khan QU, Hafeez F. Prevalence of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Awareness Among Female Medical Students. Discoveries Reports. 2020; 3: e10. [21] Haq N, Khan Z, Riaz S, Nasim A, Shahwani R, Tahir M. Prevalence and knowledge of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) among female science students of different public Universities of Quetta, Pakistan. Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research. 2017; 35 (6): 385-92. [22] Researchgate.net. [cited 2021 Aug 31]. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/317400662_Prevalence_and_Knowledge_of_Polycystic_Ovary_Syndrome_PCOS_Among_Female_Science_Students_of_Different_Public_Universities_of_Quetta_Pakistan [23] Arif N, Khawaja S, Iqbal Q. Awareness of Polycystic Ovarian Disease: Knowledge and Presence of Presenting Symptoms. Pak. J. Med. Health Sci. 2020; 14 (2): 627-30. [24] Soni KR, Agarwal S. To evaluate the knowledge and awareness of PCOS among women of known population: A hospital based study [Internet]. Jamdsr.com. [cited 2021 Aug 31]. Available from: http://jamdsr.com/uploadfiles/40PCOSvol7issue9pp147-149.20191114061456.pdf [25] Ali S, Al Bassam NM, Rahman SR; Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), Awareness Among Female Students, Qassim University, Qassim Region, Saudi Arabia; International Journal of Research – Granthaalayah 2018; 6: 395-406. [26] Saidunnisa B, Atiqulla S, Ayman G. Prevalence of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome among Students of RAK Medical and Health Sciences University United Arab Emirates. International Journal of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Science (IJMPS) 6.1, Feb 2016, 109. 2016; 118. [27] Alruwaili G, Mohammad S, Almoaibed F, Badawi F, Alruwaili R, Alkholaifi M, et al. General public awareness toward polycystic ovarian syndrome among females in Saudi Arabia. Int J Med Dev Ctries. 2020; 1847–53.