The knowledge levels of medical interns on childhood cancers.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine the knowledge levels of medical interns on childhood cancers (CC).

METHODS

This study included a total of 302 interns from the Gaziantep University School of Medicine between 15th-20 October 2021. A questionnaire consisting of 47 knowledge questions prepared from the literature was performed to all final year medical students to measure their overall knowledge level. All questions with right answers scored one point.

RESULTS

The knowledge scores of participants ranged between 13 and 47 with a mean score of 37.74 ± 7.51 (women = 37.11 ± 7.95, men = 38.34 ± 7.03). The knowledge level was similar between men and women (p = 0.158). The interns who had completed their final year pediatric internship (p = 0.44) and ones who stated that they had recieved adequate training in terms of CC (p = 0.011) had significantly higher knowledge scores. Of the risk factors for CC, most commonly known were genetic diseases (n = 296, 98.0%) and radiation exposure (n = 296, 98.0%). Enlarged lymph nodes (n = 290, 96.0%) and palpable abdominal mass (n = 286, 94.7%) were the symptoms interns were most commonly aware about.

CONCLUSIONS

We found that the interns were seriously lacking knowledge about CC. Training has a positive effect on CC knowledge of the interns hence, the curriculum should be rearranged properly to improve this issue. A significant portion of interns do not consider their knowledge on CC as adequate and demand for further training. Insufficient familiarity regarding the symptoms of CC may lead to delays in early diagnosis. It is of significant importance that the Ministry of Health and its stakeholders generate projects informing especially the healthcare professionals and the public regarding risk factors and the symptoms of CC.