Introduction: In many countries on different continents, at least 10-12% of people are suffering from chronic kidney disease (CKD). These data indicate that CKD is a big problem, much more than previously expected. Therefore, programs should be promoted for early detection of kidney diseases and carry out public education and also the medical community.
Material and methods: The aim of this article was the assessment of the nephrology knowledge of participants of the World Kidney Day in Gdansk in 2012. Analysis of the survey conducted for the entire cohort and the separate subgroups of people who were more than 60 years old and less than 60.
Results: Among the total sample and in the subgroups, complications of hypertension knowledge was declared by more than 75% of the participants, diabetes more than 70%. However the symptoms of CKD have been known only for about 60%, the concept of creatinine 40%, while the concept of dialysis/transplant for about 80% of respondents. The main source of medical information were non-medical journals for more than 50% of study participants. However the doctor as a source of medical knowledge, identified 47% of respondents.
Conclusions: Participants of questionnaires have showed in described analysis mediocre acquaintance of signs of kidney disease, the notion of creatinine in comparison for acquaintance of complication of hypertension and diabetes. However, for all participants of research and for older subgroup, main source of medical knowledge was a physician and unmedical magazines. But internet or television was the main source of knowledge for younger subgroup.