Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine the the level of environmental risk perception and its some determinants of last grade students in Hacettepe University Medical Faculty within 2005-2006 education period. The universe of this cross-sectional study were last grade students of Hacettepe University Medical Faculty within 2005-2006 education period. The data was collected with a structured questionnaire (Environment Awareness Questionnairre) via face to face interview. Environment Awareness Questionnairre is a structured Lickert scale including 47 questions which measures the perception levels of environmental risks. The 55.9% of the last grade students who participated to the study were male and the median age was 23. The first three prior environmental risk factors which were perceived as high/very high risks were stres (79.8%), damage of ozone layer (76.9%) and motor vehicle accidents (70.2%). The first three prior environmental risk factors which were perceived as low/very low risks were bottled water (57.6%), climatic change (42.9%) and lack of house to live in (39.9%). The main source of information about environmental risks for students were physicians and scientific journals and books.It was determined that most of environmental risk factor were not perceived as risk factors by students. The evolution of environmental risk perception and the increase of educations about environmental risks towards doctors who are the important sources of knowledge and counselling for the public will be beneficial.

Key words: Environmental risk perception, last grade medical students, information source and reliability

Article Language: Turkish English