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Abstract
Background: The Caduceus is the popular
representation of medicine. However, major health
organizations and regulatory bodies such as the
WHO use a different symbol- the Rod of Asclepius
in their logo.
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional
study was undertaken in Rawalpindi Medical
College after approval from Institutional Review
Forum. The study population consisted of equal
percentage of medical students from all the academic
years of Rawalpindi Medical College.
The data was collected using the technique of
stratified random sampling. Stratification was done
based on both gender and academic years of the
study. A pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire
was administered to them. The data was analysed
using SPSS version 23. Information regarding the
symbols was assessed. For all categorical variables
like gender, academic year, representation etc.
frequencies along with percentages were calculated.
Results: Only 19.3% of students knew that
Rod of Asclepius was the true symbol of medicine.
Most of the students (52%) thought that the
Caduceus was the true symbol of medicine. 23.3%
responded by stating that both were the emblems of
medicine while some (5.5%) students responded that
none of them represented medicine.
Regarding Rod of Asclepius, only 38.39% of the
students stated correctly that it represented medicine
and healing, while majority of students (50.89%)
stated that it represented danger and death followed
by hospitals (6.25%) and commerce (4.46%).
For the Caduceus, only (9.82%) knew that it
represented commerce while the majority of
students (61.6%) stated that it represented medicine
and healing followed by danger and death (17.0%)
and hospitals (11.6%).
Conclusions: There is very little awareness
about the rod of Asclepius and most institutions
have adopted a logo based on the Caduceus.
Awareness of the true origins and the symbolism of
the emblems is lacking in the medical fraternity.
Keywords: Rod of Asclepius, Caduceus