Evaluation of family physicians' knowledge level and awareness on one health

Introduction and Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic, a public health crisis originating from a potential zoonotic virus, has once again underscored the importance of the One Health approach in understanding and addressing global health risks. One Health is an integrated, unifying approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals, and ecosystems. The objective is to emphasize the need to enhance family physicians' knowledge and awareness of One Health and to promote preventive measures. Materials and Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted at Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine. It involved a survey administered to 355 family physicians across Turkey. The survey included sociodemographic questions and 20 statements rated on a five-point Likert scale. Results: Most participants reported that they had not previously heard of the One Health concept. However, they paid special attention to antimicrobial stewardship, particularly when prescribing antibiotics, showing careful consideration of necessity. No significant difference was found in the desire to learn more about One Health based on age or years of practice. Conclusion: The findings indicate that despite the heightened importance of the One Health concept following pandemics and natural disasters, awareness among family physicians remains low. There is a need to increase educational efforts in this area.