DOI: 10.25282/ted.1841861 ISSN: 1303-328X

Medical Students’ Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors Regarding Skin Cancer, Sun Exposure, and Vitamin D: An Evaluation for Curriculum Integration

Özlem Akın, Pelin Baltacı, Şükran Peker, Seyhan Hıdıroğlu, Özlem Tanrıöver
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Background: Skin cancer is among the most common preventable cancers worldwide, and adequate knowledge about sun exposure and Vitamin D is essential for early prevention. Medical students, as future physicians, should acquire appropriate knowledge and health-promoting behaviors during their undergraduate training. According to the National Core Curriculum (UÇEP 2020), skin tumors are addressed under the competency area of “early diagnosis and prevention (ÖnT-K).” This framework emphasizes not only diagnostic knowledge but also preventive counseling and risk reduction strategies.This study aimed to evaluate medical students’ knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding skin cancer, sun exposure, and Vitamin D, and to identify gaps that may inform curriculum development.Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among undergraduate medical students at a public university. “The Skin Cancer and Sun Information Scale” that has a Turkish validity and reliability was used. The validated questionnaire assessed knowledge about skin cancer risk factors and prevention, attitudes toward sun-protective behaviors, personal sun-exposure practices, and awareness of Vitamin D-related health issues. Descriptive statistics and comparative analyses were used to evaluate knowledge levels and associated factors.Results: Of the individuals participating in the study 60.2% (n=77) were female. The mean age was 21 years. The median total score of the participants' Skin Cancer and Sun Information Scale was calculated as 17 points (IQR: 4). Overall, students demonstrated moderate knowledge about skin cancer but showed variability across specific domains, particularly regarding Vitamin D physiology and safe sun exposure practices. When the behavioral status of the participants regarding vitamin D was evaluated; it was observed that 7.8% consumed oily fish at least twice a week, 17.2% took vitamin D supplements, and 21.1% knew the level of vitamin D in their blood findings. Although most students held positive attitudes toward sun protection, many reported inconsistent personal protective behaviors. Significant gaps were identified between knowledge and practice, suggesting limited translation of theoretical information into daily habits. Students across all years expressed a need for more structured curricular content on these topics.Conclusions: Medical students show important deficiencies in knowledge and behaviors related to skin cancer, sun exposure, and Vitamin D. These findings highlight the need to strengthen undergraduate medical curricula with integrated content on vitamin D intake, sun safety, and skin cancer prevention.The present findings indicate that although medical students demonstrate moderate knowledge and generally positive attitudes, these do not consistently translate into protective behaviors related to sun exposure and vitamin D intake. This gap suggests that current curricular coverage may remain largely knowledge-based, with limited emphasis on behavioral competencies and preventive counseling skills. Integrating experiential and behavior-oriented educational approaches into the curriculum may better align undergraduate medical education with UÇEP expectations. Enhancing students’ understanding during training may improve their personal health behaviors and support more effective patient counseling in their future clinical practice. These findings also highlight the necessity of strengthening undergraduate medical curricula with targeted educational content to enhance preventive competencies and promote healthier behavioral practices among future physicians.

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