The knowledge level of Aydın Adnan Menderes University Medical Faculty Family Medicine term students about interventional radiology and its effects on career choice

Background and Aim: Interventional Radiology (IR) is a field of science that involves diagnostic but primarily therapeutic procedures using radiological imaging methods. This rapidly expanding area needs to be better recognized and introduced to future physicians. This can be achieved by increasing the knowledge and awareness levels of both medical students and physicians who refer patients to IR. The aim of this study is to assess the knowledge levels of 6th-year medical students about IR. Additionally, it aims to allow students to evaluate their own knowledge levels about IR through their participation in this study and to begin their professional lives with higher awareness. Materials and Methods: The population of this descriptive cross-sectional study comprised all 6th-year students at Aydın Adnan Menderes University Faculty of Medicine during the 2022-2023 academic period (n=182), with 165 final-year medical students participating in the study. A 28-item questionnaire, consisting of open- and closed-ended questions aimed at understanding the sociodemographic characteristics, awareness levels about interventional radiology, and knowledge about IR, was administered face-to-face by the researcher. Statistical evaluation was performed using the SPSS 25.0 software package. Results: Of the 165 students who participated in the study, 50.3% (n=83) were male, and 49.7% (n=82) were female. Additionally, 72.7% (n=120) of the students had witnessed an interventional radiology procedure during their radiology internship. While 55.8% (n=92) of the participants evaluated their knowledge of IR as weak, 81.8% (n=135) stated that they could not currently provide information about IR. Furthermore, 81.8% (n=135) believed that primary care physicians should have knowledge about IR, and 62.4% (n=103) expressed a desire to receive training in this field. The average success rate of all students regarding IR was found to have a mean and standard deviation value of 0.58±0.20. Conclusion: Although the majority of students evaluated their knowledge of IR as weak, it was found that their success rates concerning IR were above average. Similar studies could increase students' awareness of IR. It is anticipated that including more IR education and clinical applications in medical training would positively contribute to the knowledge levels of students.