Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors Regarding Laser Hair Removal of Medical Students: A Cross‐Sectional Study
Emrah Atay, Hilal Kaya Erdoğan, Sibel Sert, Büşra Yeni Yıldız, Esra Ağaoğlu, Selma MetintaşABSTRACT
Introduction
Laser hair removal (LHR) has become one of the most common procedures among non‐invasive cosmetic treatments. The structured training on cosmetic dermatological procedures may be limited during medical education. The aim of this study is to evaluate medical students' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding LHR.
Materials and Methods
This cross‐sectional study was conducted with 973 medical students at a medical school. They were asked to complete a questionnaire related to the history of LHR, sources of information about LHR and 12 statements in a 3‐point Likert scale format to assess students' knowledge levels named “LHR‐K‐Scale”. As the data were not normally distributed, non‐parametric tests (Mann–Whitney U and Kruskal–Wallis) were used for group comparisons. Univariate and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with sufficient knowledge.
Results
Of the students, 484 (49.7%) were female and 489 (50.3%) were male; their ages ranged from 17 to 31, with a mean ± SD of 20.9 ± 2.2 years. The total LHR‐K Scale score ranged from 0 to 24, with a mean score of 13.5 ± 6.5. Overall, 527 students (54.2%) were classified as having a sufficient level of knowledge (≥ 15 points). In the logistic regression analysis, correctly knowing the definition of LHR increased the likelihood of having a sufficient level of knowledge on the LHR‐K Scale by 2.50 times (OR = 2.50; 95% CI: 1.90–3.30). Participants who had undergone LHR were 1.98 times more likely to have a sufficient level of knowledge than those with no history of LHR and no intention to undergo the procedure (OR = 1.98; 95% CI: 1.37–2.87). In addition, participants who used social media as a source of information were 1.54 times more likely to have a sufficient level of knowledge than those who did not (OR = 1.54; 95% CI: 1.15–2.05).
Conclusions
The study revealed that while medical students' knowledge levels regarding LHR are heterogeneous, they are generally limited; significant knowledge gaps exist in areas such as mechanism of action, radiation, pregnancy, breastfeeding, cancer, and infertility. The topic should be addressed not only as a matter of individual aesthetic preference but also from the perspectives of health literacy. It is recommended that the medical curriculum include up‐to‐date and evidence‐based content regarding cosmetic dermatology practices, particularly LHR.