Awareness of endocrine-disrupting chemicals among medical students and physicians: a cross-sectional study

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have diverse sources of exposure in everyday life. Raising public awareness is crucial, considering the undeniable role of individual choices in EDC exposure. Given the critical role of physicians in public health education and the increasing importance of preventive strategies, it is essential to evaluate EDC awareness among both current and future healthcare providers. This study aimed to assess the level of EDC awareness among Turkish medical students and physicians using a validated scale, and to examine how this awareness relates to individuals' general attitudes toward preventive health, as measured by the Healthy Life Awareness (HLA) Scale. This cross-sectional study employed the endocrine Disruptor Awareness Scale (EDCA) and the Healthy Life Awareness Scale (HLA) to assess participants' knowledge and attitudes. The survey was disseminated electronically through e-mail. We reached a total of 617 participants. Three hundred eighty-one were medical students, and 236 were physicians. The median EDC general awareness score was significantly higher in physicians compared to students (2.12[1.5] vs 2.87[1.63], p < 0.001). The mean EDC awareness total score was also higher in physicians (3.4 ± 0.54 vs 3.63 ± 0.6, p < 0.001). Female physicians' awareness was significantly higher than their male counterparts (3[1.38] vs 2.75[1.56], p = 0.027). Age and healthy life awareness scores significantly correlated with EDC awareness scores. In particular, endocrinologists' scores were significantly higher than other subspecialties (total score 3.59 ± 0.58 vs. 3.96 ± 0.56, p = 0.003). The findings reveal a significant gap in EDC awareness among medical students, highlighting a lack of sufficient curricular coverage at the undergraduate level. The positive associations observed between EDC awareness, age, and healthy life awareness suggest that individual health consciousness and postgraduate experience contribute to greater awareness. These results underscore the importance of incorporating environmental health, particularly the endocrine disruptors, into medical curricula at various stages of training.