Evaluation of knowledge levels and attitudes of physicians receiving medical specialization education at Eskisehir Osmangazi University Faculty of Medicine about relationship between microbiota and disease

Microbiota is defined as microorganisms living in our body. More than 70% of the microbiota, which has many functions in the body, is localised in the intestines. If the balance in the microbiota shifts in favour of pathogens, called dysbiosis, the protective function of the microbiota in the body is damaged and this is associated with the emergence of many chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, allergies, liver diseases, neuropsychiatric diseases and cancer. Considering this relationship, the development and maintenance of healthy microbiota is very important for primary prevention. In our study, we aimed to evaluate the level of knowledge and attitudes of physicians receiving medical speciality training about the relationship between microbiota and disease and to raise awareness of physicians about the subject. The study was planned as a cross-sectional descriptive survey study. In our study, 27.8% of physicians found the level of knowledge about microbiota sufficient. The knowledge score of the relationship between microbiota and disease was statistically significantly higher in those who thought that changes in the microbiota would cause diseases compared to those who did not think so. Similarly, those who thought that antimicrobial treatment could cause permanent changes in the microbiota had a statistically significantly higher knowledge score about the relationship between microbiota and disease compared to those who did not think so. The results show that physicians who have knowledge about microbiota are aware that the dysbiosis process may cause diseases. Considering that the level of knowledge of physicians is important in patient approach, physicians should be provided with adequate knowledge about the role of microbiota in the pathophysiology of diseases related to their branches.