EXAMINATION OF THE AWARENESS AND ATTITUDES OF PRE-CLINICAL MEDICAL STUDENTS TOWARD QUATERNARY PREVENTION

Uyar Zekey K., Zekey F. S.

Bozok Tıp Dergisi, cilt.15, ss.15-22, 2025 (Hakemli Dergi)

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 15
  • Basım Tarihi: 2025
  • Doi Numarası: 10.16919/bozoktip.1657771
  • Dergi Adı: Bozok Tıp Dergisi
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: TR DİZİN (ULAKBİM)
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.15-22
  • Yozgat Bozok Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

ABSTRACT

Objective: With advancing technology, individuals are increasingly exposed to unnecessary medical interventions. Quaternary prevention aims to identify individuals at excessive risk and protect them from unnecessary interventions. This study examined the awareness and attitudes of preclinical medical students regarding quaternary prevention.

Material and Methods: This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with the participation of pre-clinical students from Yozgat Bozok University Faculty of Medicine. A 29-item questionnaire, developed by the researcher based on literature data, was administered to the participants.

Results: A total of 310 preclinical students participated in the study. The mean age of the participants was 20.83±1.80 (min: 18- max: 36). Of the participants, 26.1% (n=81) were first-year students, 31.9% (n=99) were second-year students, and 41.9% (n=130) were third-year students. Among the participants, 68.4% (n=212) stated that not every patient complaint necessarily has a diagnosis, while 86.8% (n=269) indicated that not every complaint requires a prescription. Students who believed that increased professional experience would make it easier to protect patients from overdiagnosis and overtreatment, had significantly higher quaternary prevention attitude scores (p=0.006). Similarly, students who thought that not every complaint requires a prescription, had significantly higher quaternary prevention attitude scores (p=0.025).

Conclusion: While pre-clinical medical students demonstrate some awareness and positive attitudes toward quaternary prevention, further emphasis is needed to integrate these attitudes into clinical decision-making.

Keywords: Quaternary Prevention; Overdiagnosis; Overtreatment; Medical Student, Preventive Medicine