Botulism Awareness Across Population Groups Before and After Targeted Education

Objectives: To compare baseline awareness of botulism among doctors, fifth-year medical students, and community women, and to assess changes in knowledge among medical students and community women after targeted educational activities. Methods: A comparative baseline survey and an uncontrolled pre/post educational evaluation were performed using the summary dataset supplied by the authors. Baseline awareness was assessed in 510 participants: 108 doctors, 300 fifth-year medical students, and 102 community women. Questionnaire responses were scored as 2 points for complete knowledge, 1 point for partial knowledge, and 0 points for no knowledge. Medical students received a practical teaching session; community participants received an informational session supported by printed brochures. Results are presented as mean ± standard error (SE), with absolute and relative score changes calculated from the reported values. Results: Baseline mean awareness scores were 19.4 ± 1.10 for doctors, 13.3 ± 0.43 for medical students, and 8.5 ± 0.25 for community women. Among medical students, the reported score increased from 64.3 ± 1.4 before training to 85.5 ± 1.8 after training, an absolute increase of 21.2 points (33.0%). Among community women, the score increased from 39.8 ± 1.7 to 71.4 ± 2.1, an absolute increase of 31.6 points (79.4%). Both pre/post comparisons were reported as statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusions: Botulism awareness differed markedly across population groups, and short targeted educational interventions were associated with substantial knowledge gains in both students and community participants. Clinical Relevance: Improved recognition of food-related risks and characteristic neurological manifestations may support earlier suspicion of botulism, safer food-preservation practices, and more timely referral for urgent clinical assessment.

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