KNOWLEDGE AND VIEWPOINTS ON THE EFFECTS OF CORRUPTION ON HEALTHCARE: A SURVEY CONDUCTED AMONG STUDENTS OF PALERMO UNIVERSITY MEDICAL SCHOOL, ITALY.

Corruption affects healthcare effectiveness and efficiency and limits equity in access to health services. Aim of the survey was to document knowledge and viewpoints on the impact of corruption on healthcare system in a sample of students attending pre-lauream healthcare professional courses at Palermo University Medical school and to evaluate any improvement in their awareness on this topic after a dedicated multidisciplinary educational intervention. An anonymous questionnaire was administered to students before and after the intervention. Absolute and relative frequency of correct and incorrect answers was computed. Chi-squared test was used to compare answers given before and after the educational intervention. Approximately less than a quarter of the respondents were able to correctly estimate impact of corruption, inappropriateness and waste in healthcare on NHS. The study documented how improving students’ knowledge of the impact of corruption in the healthcare system could represent a possible strategy to prevent corruption in healthcare.