DOI: 10.25282/ted.1932243 ISSN: 1303-328X

Preanalytical Knowledge and Practice Gaps in Surgical Pathology: A Cross-sectional Study Among Interns and Residents in Turkey

Erdem Çomut, Hande Şenol, Ceren Rana Göde, Ali Çakal, Alihan Bozkurt, Neşe Demirkan
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BackgroundPreanalytical processes in pathology play a critical role in ensuring diagnostic accuracy and patient safety. Errors in specimen handling, fixation, and transport may compromise histopathological evaluation and the reliability of molecular tests. Despite their importance, preanalytical practices are often insufficiently addressed in undergraduate and postgraduate medical education. This study aimed to assess the level of knowledge of interns and residents in Turkey regarding proper specimen handling and to identify gaps in both theoretical knowledge and routine practice.MethodsThis descriptive cross-sectional study included 827 participants, consisting of interns and residents from various medical and surgical specialties in Turkey. Data were collected between May and June 2025 using an online questionnaire developed based on the literature and validated by pathology faculty members. The questionnaire included three sections: demographic characteristics, theoretical knowledge (13 items), and practice-based assessments (19 Likert-scale items, applied only to residents). Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 25.0. Comparisons between groups were conducted using Mann–Whitney U, Kruskal–Wallis, and chi-square tests, with a significance level of p

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