Evaluating Medical Faculty Students\\\' Awareness and Professional Attitudes Towards Domestic Violence

Authors : Duygu Ayhan Başer, Filiz Bayar, Gamze Işık Avci, Hilal Aksoy, İzzet Fidancı

Pages : 6-13

Doi:10.16899/jcm.1509181

View : 40 | Download : 53

Publication Date : 2025-01-31

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Objective: This study aimed to investigate the awareness, attitudes, and perceptions of medical students regarding domestic violence, with a focus on examining the associations between sociodemographic factors and attitudes towards domestic violence. Methods: This descriptive study was conducted as an e-survey between 01 January 2023- 01 May 2023 on students’ social media group. The population consists of 4th, 5th, and 6th-year medical students undergoing clinical practice education at a University Faculty of Medicine. Statistical analyses, including descriptive statistics and inferential tests, were conducted to explore the relationships between sociodemographic variables and domestic violence-related features with participants\\\' scores on the The Domestic Violence Awareness Scale (DVAS) and The Attitude towards Domestic Violence Scale (DVAtS). Results: A total of 225 medical students participated in the study, 54.7% of them female and the mean age was 23.04±1.54 (20;31). Of the students, 17.3% of them stated that they exposed, 34.7% of them witnessed to domestic violence. Total score of domestic violence awareness scale was 57.6±3.83 (25; 60). Women demonstrated higher awareness scores compared to men, and individuals not exposed to domestic violence exhibited lower tolerance for normalized forms of violence. Higher maternal education levels were associated with more favorable attitudes towards casualization of violence. Participants belonging to nuclear families showed higher awareness levels compared to non-nuclear family participants. Conclusion: The study underscores the importance of addressing domestic violence awareness and education among medical students, particularly regarding the nuanced associations between sociodemographic factors and attitudes towards domestic violence. Targeted educational initiatives and intervention strategies are needed to enhance awareness, sensitivity, and professional attitudes towards addressing domestic violence in clinical practice, ultimately contributing to the promotion of health and well-being among affected individuals and communities.
Keywords : Tıp Fakültesi Öğrencileri, Aile İçi Şiddet, Farkındalık, Mesleki Tutumlar