New methods and techniques in interventional cardiology. Evaluation the knowledge of medical students of Jagiellonian University Medical College.

INTRODUCTION: Interventional cardiology (IC) is a rapidly expanding field of medicine. Medical studies should provide students the necessary level of knowledge about new techniques in IC. The aim of the study was to assess the medical students' knowledge about various new areas of IC.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Self-designed questionnaire was used to assess student's knowledge. It contained 31 questions. The initial 3 questions concerned general information, the remaining ones were related to different IC techniques: Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI), Bioresorbable Vascular Scaffold (BVS), percutaneous mitral regurgitation repair methods, Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion (LAAO), Renal DeNervation (RDN), Balloon Aortic Valvuloplasty (BAV) and Atrial Septal Defect/Persistent Foramen Ovale (ASD/PFO). One point for each correct answer was awarded.

RESULTS: In our study participated 104 students. Mean score was 15.9 ± 5.8 points. 24% of participants were 3rd year students, 38% - 4th, 20% - 5th and 18% - 6th. There was no differences in level of knowledge between students of different years of studies (p = 0.2). Students from Students Research Groups (SRG) achieved higher score in comparison with students no attending SRG (19.3 ± 6.3 vs 13.3 ± 3.7; p <0.001) as well as students interested in cardiology comparison with other (19.6 ± 5.9 vs 13.0 ± 3.8; p <0.001). Students from SRG and interested in cardiology reached also higher results in practically every area of IC in comparison with other.

CONCLUSIONS: Participants have insufficient, outdated and incomplete knowledge of new methods in IC. There was no significant difference in students of different years of studies. Students belonging to cardiological SRG and interested in cardiology have greater knowledge in IC.