# How much do medical students know about cancer risk factors?

## TL;DR

Medical students have suboptimal knowledge about cancer risk factors, with education and clinical exposure significantly improving their understanding.

## Contribution

This study quantifies medical students' knowledge of modifiable cancer risk factors and identifies education and clinical training as key predictors of better knowledge.

## Key findings

- Medical students scored an average of 23.17 out of 36 on cancer risk factor knowledge.
- Clinical students and those who received training had significantly higher scores than preclinical students and those without training.
- Smoking and alcohol were the most recognized cancer risk factors among students.

## Abstract

In this study, we aimed to determine the knowledge level of medical students regarding cancer risk factors (CRF).

This study was carried out in Gaziantep University (Gaziantep, Turkey) between February 10 and March 04 of 2022. A total of 532 students at Gaziantep University Faculty of Medicine took part in the study. The sociodemographic data of the students and their level of knowledge about CRF were questioned in the survey. Risk status of modifiable CRF (smoking, alcohol, obesity, human papillomavirus, high-fat diet) for cancer types was asked with 36 questions. The maximum possible score was 36 points.

Of the students, 270 (50.8%) were female, 262 (49.2%) were male, and the mean age was 22.63 ± 2.66 years. The mean CRF knowledge score of the participants was 23.17 ± 7.20 out of a maximum of 36. Knowledge scores of women and men were similar (23.06 ± 7.35 vs. 23.32 ± 7.08, respectively p = 0.674). The level of knowledge about CRF was significantly lower in preclinical students than in clinical students (p < 0.001). The knowledge score of those who received training on CRF was significantly higher than those who did not (p < 0.001). The most commonly known CRF was smoking and alcohol. Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that being in clinical years (p < 0.001) and having received CRF training (p < 0.001) were significant independent predictors of higher knowledge scores. Conclusion: This study indicates that knowledge about CRF among medical students remains suboptimal, with education and clinical exposure playing critical roles in improving scores. It was determined that medical students had serious lack of knowledge about CRF. The knowledge levels of men and women about CRF were similar. Education positively affected knowledge score on CRF, and thus we believe that medical education curricula need to be developed in this area. Educating students about modifiable CRF is of great importance due to both their own health behaviors and their positions in health service delivery.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12909-025-07487-y.