DOI: 10.56016/dahudermj.1936750 ISSN: 2791-9250

Evaluation of Functional Medicine and Elimination Diet Knowledge Level in Kütahya Health Sciences University Medical Faculty Students

Türkan Paşalı Kilit, Sena Semerci, Hafize Özçelebi, Emine Yazıcı, Ayşenur Karagöz, Gülbahar Yilmaz, Sibel Doğan
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Objective: Functional medicine is an evolving medical paradigm that aims to address the underlying causes of chronic diseases rather than focusing solely on symptom management. Within this framework, elimination diets are utilized as dietary interventions for certain inflammatory conditions, although the level of evidence supporting their efficacy varies across clinical indications. Despite their emerging popularity, the level of knowledge and awareness regarding these concepts among medical students—the future healthcare providers—remains poorly understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of knowledge, awareness, and attitudes regarding the concepts of functional medicine and elimination diets among students enrolled at the Faculty of Medicine, Kütahya Health Sciences University.Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 298 medical students. Data were collected via face-to-face interviews and an online Google Forms questionnaire. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 25.0.Results: The findings demonstrated that most participants had not previously heard of functional medicine or elimination diets. Similarly, only 25.5% of the participants responded “Probably yes” regarding the effectiveness of functional/holistic nutrition approaches in chronic disease management. Furthermore, no statistically significant differences in awareness levels were observed across major demographic and lifestyle sub-groups. Most students stated a strong preference for incorporating functional medicine into the medical curriculum.Conclusion: Medical students at Kütahya Health Sciences University exhibit limited baseline knowledge regarding functional medicine and elimination diets. While there is an emerging interest and a perceived need for structured medical training in this field, future educational initiatives should prioritize a balanced, evidence-based approach to bridge the gap between student interest and scientific evidence in this area.

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