Ayşe TOSUN, Dila Nur TAYLAN, Elif Su GÜLLÜ, Arda GÜRSES, İsmail SARI, Ünal Ünsar SARIİŞIK, Recep DİNÇER
Journal of Turkish Spinal Surgery - 2026;37(1):23-28
Objective: To determine the level of scoliosis awareness among medical students and to examine demographic factors associated with awareness, including age, gender, and academic year. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional, survey-based study was conducted among undergraduate medical students enrolled in Süleyman Demirel University Faculty of Medicine between March 1 and April 30, 2025. A structured questionnaire developed through literature review and expert opinion was administered online. The questionnaire collected demographic data and consisted of 11 items assessing awareness of scoliosis. Of the 1.555 students invited, 906 valid questionnaires were included in the final analysis. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and differences in awareness levels according to demographic variables were analyzed using the chi-square test. Results: The majority of participants were female (56.1%) and were aged between 18 and 22 years. Most respondents were first- and fourth-year students (28.5% and 25.6%, respectively). Overall, 93.2% of participants had heard of scoliosis; 70.5% reported moderate awareness, and 11.1% reported good awareness. Awareness levels differed significantly according to age group (p=0.012) and academic year (p<0.001), with higher proportions of good awareness observed among third- and sixth-year students. No significant difference in awareness levels was observed by gender (p=0.417). Although belief in the availability of treatment options was high (74.3%), awareness of scoliosis symptoms was limited to 59.1%. Participation in scoliosis awareness campaigns was very low (2.1%), whereas most participants (90.7%) supported organizing awareness activities in schools and public spaces. Conclusion: Medical students demonstrated basic awareness of scoliosis; however, notable gaps remain, particularly in recognizing symptoms and participating in awareness campaigns. Although awareness increases with academic progression, integrating scoliosis awareness into structured curricula, social responsibility initiatives, and community-based education programs may enhance student engagement and contribute to improved public health outcomes.
