2209-AGazi Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Öğrencilerinin İklim Değişikliğinin Cilt Sağlığına Etkileri, Cilt Kanserleri ve Cilt Kanserlerinden Korunma Konusundaki Bilgi, Tutum ve Davranışları

TÜBİTAK Projesi, 2209-A - Üniversite Öğrencileri Araştırma Projeleri Destekleme Programı, 2024 - 2025

Proje Türü: TÜBİTAK Projesi
Destek Programı: 2209-A - Üniversite Öğrencileri Araştırma Projeleri Destekleme Programı
Başlama Tarihi: Mart 2024
Bitiş Tarihi: Ekim 2025

Proje Özeti

Background: Skin cancer is one of the most preventable yet fastest-growing malignancies globally, and its incidence is expected to rise further with climate change. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure and climate-related dermatological risks remain underrecognized, even among future health professionals. Understanding medical students’ knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors toward these issues is vital for effective preventive strategies.

Objective: To assess medical students’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding skin cancer and the dermatological impacts of climate change, and to identify demographic and educational factors influencing awareness and behavior.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 622 medical students from all academic years at a Turkish medical faculty. Data were collected via a validated online questionnaire assessing skin cancer knowledge (SCKS), climate change knowledge (CCKS), perceived risk, and self-reported sun-protective behaviors. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, bivariate comparisons, and multivariate regression.

Results: Overall knowledge levels were suboptimal. Only 34.7% correctly identified melanoma as the deadliest form of skin cancer, and fewer than half understood SPF definitions or UV radiation risks. Although 59.2% reported never tanning, 64.1% had experienced sunburn at least once. Female students and those in clinical years scored significantly higher in both SCKS and CCKS (p < 0.001) but paradoxically reported more frequent sunburns. Regression analysis revealed that gender, academic year, and both perceived and objective knowledge significantly predicted students' perception of climate change as a health threat.

Conclusion: Medical students demonstrated critical knowledge gaps and behavioral inconsistencies regarding skin cancer prevention and climate-related dermatological risks. These findings underscore the urgent need to integrate structured dermatology education—emphasizing not only theoretical content but also behavioral change, self-assessment, and gender-sensitive strategies—into undergraduate medical curricula.

Keywords: Skin cancer, Climate change, Medical education, UV radiation, Preventive behavior, Risk perception, Dermatology curriculum