TY - JOUR T1 - EVALUATION OF MEDICAL STUDENTS' AWARENESS AND KNOWLEDGE LEVELS REGARDING SYPHILIS DISEASE AU - Çelik, Muammer AU - Uysal, Mügenur AU - Çopur, Ahmet AU - Çimen, Yekcan Baran AU - Çelik, Ali Burak AU - Yiğit, Emre AU - Eren Kutsoylu, Oya Özlem PY - 2025 DA - July Y2 - 2025 DO - 10.18614/dehm.1656288 JF - Developments and Experiments in Health and Medicine JO - Dev Exp Health Med PB - Dokuz Eylul University WT - DergiPark SN - 3062-2948 SP - 189 EP - 199 VL - 39 IS - 3 LA - en AB - Introduction: The incidence of syphilis, a disease with severe long-term morbidities if untreated, has been increasing. This trend mainly concerns young generations, such as medical students, who are at risk. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge and awareness levels of medical students about syphilis.Materials and Methods: After obtaining written consent, an online questionnaire was applied to students in all grades of medical school. The questionnaire, which was created through a literature review, included demographic questions as well as questions about sexual behavior, STD history, and prevention methods. Students were asked to rate their knowledge of the transmission routes, clinical symptoms, diagnostic methods, treatment, and prevention methods of syphilis on a scale from 1 to 5 and to answer seven multiple-choice questions to assess their knowledge level.Results: A total of 265 students participated, with a median age of 22 years (21-23) and 52.5% (n=134) were male. Of the students, 48.3% were sexually active and 28.3% did not use any protection method, while 51.7% used condoms.Median self-rated knowledge scores were: transmission 3 (2.5-4), symptoms 3 (2-4), diagnosis 2 (1-3), treatment 2 (1-3), and prevention 3 (2-4). The total median score was 14 (10-17). Among knowledge questions, 80.4% identified the causative agent, while correct response rates for transmission, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and HIV screening were 57.7%, 15.5%, 14.3%, 54.7%, 55.1%, and 57%, respectively. The median number of correct answers across all questions was 4 (2-5), with a total correct answer rate of 47.8%.Conclusions: Medical students exhibit critical gaps in syphilis knowledge, with correct response rates below 50%. Given the high rate of sexual activity and inconsistent condom use, enhanced educational interventions are urgently needed to ensure both personal protection and future professional competence. KW - Syphilis KW - Sexually transmitted diseases KW - Medical students CR - 1. Peeling RW, Mabey D, Chen XS, Garcia PJ. Syphilis. Lancet. 2023;402(10398):336-346. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(22)02348-0. CR - 2. CDC. National Overview of STIs in 2023. (12 November 2024). Accessed 13 December 2024. 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Differences Regarding Knowledge of Sexually Transmitted Infections, Sexual Habits, and Behavior Between University Students of Medical and Nonmedical Professions in Serbia. Front Public Health. 2022;9:692461. UR - https://doi.org/10.18614/dehm.1656288 L1 - https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/4683881 ER -