Asia Pacific Journal of Pediatric and Child Health

Abstract Ref Number = APCP809

Poster Presentation

PERCEPTION AND SELF AWARENESS OF SPESIFIC LEARNING DISORDER AMONG TARUMANAGARA MEDICAL STUDENTS

Wiyarni Pambudi,Adriani Hartanto,Angela Oktaviani,Kristiantini Dewi Faculty of Medicine Tarumanagara University Dyslexia Association of Indonesia

Background : Specific learning disorder (SLD) effects approximately 10-15% of the worldwide population. This purpose of this study is to explore perception of medical students and how they concern about self awareness of SLD. Material : A questionnaire-based survey was done to medical students attending Faculty of Medicine Tarumanagara University in December 2017. Results : A total of 134 participants were 70 (52.2%) and 64 (47.8%) first and second year medical students. A number of 61.2% students told that they already informed about SLD, but only 10.4% mentioned the right definition of dyslexia as difference of human brain processess-stores-communicates language. As 30.6% said that dyslexia is neurological in origin and it tend to run in families, and 26.1% understand it must be early detected. More students (62.7%) agreed that dyslexia characterized by difficulties with accurate or fluent language abilities, may also affect other cognitive abilities: short-term memory, concentration, personal organization and sequencing. The students with low perception of SLD appear to have adequate oral language skills (82.3%) but find to get confused if they have to speak in public (70.9%), difficult to say or explain words – especially in medical term (63.8%), frequently making mistakes when writing essay (55.3%), dislike reading long articles (62.7%), mix up dates, times and sometime missed the class (52.6%). They hardly manage executive function: difficulty start and finish tasks (72.6%), fail to recall and follow multi-steps direction (70.3%), hard to stay on track (53.7%), poor self monitor (52.6%), an inability to plan (54.6%) or time blindness. These students were at greater risk to failed at self awareness of dyslexia (17.2%). Conclusions : Number of medical students (45.5%) have inadequate perception about SLD, and typically unaware that they deal with risk for SLD (17.2%). Our study highlights the need for more research to reveal undisclosed SLD in the medical student population.

Keywords: specific learning disorder medical student perception self awareness