A Peer-Supported Learning Model Led by Medical Students to Enhance University Students’ Knowledge and Awareness of Sexually Transmitted Infections

Öz

Abstract Aim: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) remain a major public health concern among adolescents and young adults. Persistent knowledge gaps and misconceptions among university students highlight the need for feasible, learner-centered educational approaches. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a medical student–led, peer-supported STI education session on university students’ STI knowledge. Materials and Methods: A quasi-experimental pretest–posttest study was conducted within a Special Study Module at Faculty of Medicine. The intervention consisted of a single, in-person, interactive session delivered by trained medical students under faculty supervision. STI knowledge was assessed immediately before and after the session using a validated 25-item instrument. Pretest–posttest matching was performed via anonymous self-generated codes. Total score changes were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and item-level changes in correct responses were examined with exact McNemar tests. Results: Twenty-nine participants with matched pretest and posttest data were included. Mean knowledge scores increased from 10.24 ± 5.17 to 17.79 ± 4.27 after the intervention (Z = −4.319, p < 0.001). Item-level analyses demonstrated significant improvements in key domains, including HIV–STI co-risk, hepatitis B transmission risk, HPV-related cancer risk, treatment availability for gonorrhea and chlamydia, and correction of common misconceptions (exact McNemar p-values < 0.05 for multiple items). Conclusion: A single-session, medical student–led peer-supported educational intervention was associated with a substantial improvement in university students’ STI knowledge. This pragmatic model may represent a scalable approach for strengthening sexual health literacy in university settings.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Sexually transmitted infections
• STI knowledge
• University students
• Peer- supported education

Tıp Fakültesi Öğrencileri Tarafından Yürütülen Akran Destekli Bir Öğrenme Modelinin Üniversite Öğrencilerinde Cinsel Yolla Bulaşan Enfeksiyonlar Konusundaki Bilgi ve Farkındalık Düzeyine Etkisi

Öz

Öz Amaç: Cinsel yolla bulaşan enfeksiyonlar (CYBE), genç erişkinler arasında önemli bir halk sağlığı sorunudur. Üniversite öğrencileri arasındaki bilgi eksiklikleri ve yanlış inanışlar, uygulanabilir ve öğrenen merkezli eğitim yaklaşımlarına ihtiyacı ortaya koymaktadır. Bu çalışmada, tıp fakültesi öğrencileri tarafından yürütülen akran destekli bir CYBE eğitim oturumunun, CYBE bilgi düzeyine etkisi değerlendirilmiştir. Gereç ve Yöntem: Araştırma, Tıp Fakültesi Özel Çalışma Modülü kapsamında gerçekleştirilen, yarı deneysel ön test–son test çalışmasıdır. Müdahale, öğretim üyesi gözetiminde eğitim almış tıp fakültesi öğrencileri tarafından uygulanan tek oturumluk, yüz yüze ve interaktif bir eğitimden oluşmaktadır. Geçerliliği kanıtlanmış 25 maddelik bir ölçüm aracı kullanılarak eğitim öncesi ve sonrasında CYBE bilgi düzeyi değerlendirilmiştir. Ön test–son test eşleştirmesi anonim rumuzlar aracılığıyla yapılmıştır. Toplam puanlardaki değişim Wilcoxon Signed Ranks testi ile, madde bazında doğru yanıt değişimleri ise kesin McNemar testi ile analiz edilmiştir. Bulgular: Ön test ve son test verileri eşleştirilebilen 29 katılımcı analize dahil edilmiştir. Ortalama bilgi puanı, eğitim öncesinde 10,24 ± 5,17 iken, eğitim sonrasında 17,79 ± 4,27 olarak saptanmıştır (Z = −4,319; p < 0,001). Madde bazlı analizlerde; HIV–CYBE birlikte risk durumu, hepatit B bulaş riski, HPV’nin kansere yol açabilmesi, gonore ve klamidya tedavisinin varlığı ile yaygın yanlış inanışların düzeltilmesi gibi temel alanlarda istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bilgi artışı gözlenmiştir (birden fazla madde için kesin McNemar p < 0,05). Sonuç: Tıp fakültesi öğrencileri tarafından yürütülen tek oturumluk akran destekli eğitim müdahalesi, üniversite öğrencilerinin cinsel yolla bulaşan enfeksiyonlara ilişkin bilgi düzeyini anlamlı düzeyde artırmıştır. Bu pragmatik model, üniversite ortamında cinsel sağlık okuryazarlığını güçlendirmek için ölçeklenebilir bir yaklaşım sunabilir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Cinsel yolla bulaşan enfeksiyonlar
• CYBE bilgisi
• üniversite öğrencileri
• akran eğitimi

Kaynakça

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