Assessment of Food Safety Knowledge and Practices Among Medical Students

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Medical Education
• Microbiology

Background:

• Food safety is crucial for global health, necessitating robust education for future physicians.
• Medical students require foundational knowledge in food safety to protect public health.
• Understanding food safety practices related to microbiological contamination is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) of medical students concerning food safety.
• To evaluate medical students' understanding of food safety, specifically microbiological contamination.
• To identify gaps in food safety knowledge among medical students.

Main Methods:

• An online survey was conducted among 1277 medical students.
• The survey assessed knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) related to food safety.
• Statistical analysis was used to examine differences in knowledge based on study year and cooking frequency.

Main Results:

• Over half of medical students exhibited low food safety knowledge levels (61-80% scored 11-60).
• Conversely, most participants demonstrated high levels of good food safety practices (58% scored >25).
• A significant difference in food safety knowledge was observed between preclinical and clinical students (p=0.005).

Conclusions:

• Medical students require enhanced food safety knowledge, especially concerning microbiological risks.
• Improving food safety education is vital for equipping future physicians to protect themselves and their patients.
• Interventions should focus on increasing awareness and knowledge of food safety measures.