Medical students’ knowledge and practices regarding skin cancer and climate change-related dermatological risks: a cross-sectional study from Turkey

TL;DR

This study found that Turkish medical students have significant knowledge gaps and inconsistent behaviors regarding skin cancer and climate-related skin risks, highlighting the need for better education.

Contribution

The study identifies demographic and educational predictors of awareness and behaviors related to skin cancer and climate change among medical students.

Findings

Female students had significantly higher knowledge scores for skin cancer and climate change.

Only 53.2% of students avoided midday sun exposure despite knowing peak UV hours.

Gender, academic year, and self-assessed knowledge significantly predicted perceptions of climate change as a health threat.

Abstract

Skin cancer represents one of the most preventable yet rapidly increasing malignancies worldwide, with projected rises associated with climate change. This study aimed to assess medical students’ knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding skin cancer and climate-related dermatological risks, and to identify demographic and educational predictors of awareness and preventive behaviours.

Cross-sectional survey.

Public university medical faculty in Turkey.

A total of 622 medical students enrolled in all six academic years completed the online questionnaire. Inclusion criteria were current enrolment and voluntary participation; incomplete submissions were excluded.

Primary outcomes were Skin Cancer Knowledge (SCKS) and Climate Change Knowledge (CCKS) Scores. Secondary outcomes included students’ perceived risk and photoprotective behaviours.

Mean SCKS was 7.81±3.06 and mean CCKS was 12.27±3.67. Female students had significantly higher SCKS (β=0.58; p<0.001) and CCKS (β=0.41; p<0.001). Although 92.3% recognised peak ultraviolet hazard hours, only 53.2% avoided midday exposure. A total of 64.1% reported at least one lifetime sunburn. Logistic regression showed that gender (OR=2.56; 95% CI 1.73 to 3.80), academic year (eg, Yr1 vs Yr6 OR=0.41; 95% CI 0.22 to 0.78), poor self-assessed knowledge (OR=3.19; 95% CI 1.33 to 7.64) and CCKS (per-unit increase, OR=0.92; 95% CI 0.87 to 0.96) significantly predicted perceiving climate change as a health threat.

Medical students demonstrated substantial knowledge gaps and behavioural inconsistencies regarding skin cancer and climate-related dermatologic risks. Findings highlight the urgent need for structured, behaviourally oriented, climate-integrated dermatology education within medical curricula.

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