Comparative Evaluation of the First-grade andSenior Medical School Students’ Knowledge andAttitudes Toward Thoracic Surgery

Abstract

Objective: Comparison of the knowledge and attitudes of first and lastyear medical students about thoracic surgery. Method: The answers of the five questionnaires which were directedto the first and last year medicine faculty students were evaluatedcomparatively. The first 4 questions were about the knowledge of thoracicsurgery and the last question was about the wishes of thoracic surgeryexpertise in the future. Results: There were 71 of first year and 68 of last year medicine studentsin this survey research. There were no correct answers to all of the first 4questions. It was found that 15.49% of the first grade and 85.29% of the6th grade correctly knew the organs in the chest cavity. The first gradestudents could not give the correct answer to the question which wasabout the diseases of thoracic surgery, whereas only six participants inthe sixth grade gave the correct answer. The students in both gradesresponded that the stage of the disease was important in the treatmentof lung cancer. For the question evaluating the treatment methods ofthoracic surgery, both student groups did not answer correctly. Andboth of student groups had inaccurate information on the treatment ofrib fracture. While 29.57% of the first grade students considered to be athoracic surgeon, none of the sixth grade students were willing to be athoracic surgeon.Conclusion: The knowledge of thoracic surgery is increasing at highergrades but it is still insufficient. The fact that the thoracic surgery isconsidered risky compared to other departments and the medicalspecialty exam scores which are effective in the decision on thespecialization have a negative effect on medical students to choosethoracic surgery as a future career.