{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,31]],"date-time":"2026-07-31T19:45:05Z","timestamp":1785527105839,"version":"3.56.0"},"reference-count":25,"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,25]],"date-time":"2026-05-25T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1779667200000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,28]],"date-time":"2026-07-28T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1785196800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":64,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["link.springer.com"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["BMC Prim. Care"],"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Objective<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>As future healthcare providers, medical students play a critical role in the prevention, early recognition, and management of substance use disorders. However, the extent to which they are adequately prepared for this responsibility remains insufficiently explored. This study aims to evaluate differences in knowledge and awareness according to year of study.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      A total of 607 students (399 first-year and 208 sixth-year) from a medical faculty were included in the study. Data were collected through structured face-to-face interviews using the Substance Abuse Awareness Scale (SAAS) and the Substance Abuse Knowledge Test (SAKT). Descriptive statistics and correlation analyses were performed (\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u2009&lt;\u20090.05).\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      The mean participant age was 20.4\u2009\u00b1\u20092.6 years, with 54.5% identifying as female. Despite the high rate of formal education (87.0%), variability in knowledge and awareness levels remained evident. The mean scores were 23.0\u2009\u00b1\u20096.6 for the SAKT and 114.1\u2009\u00b1\u200912.0 for the SAAS, with the latter demonstrating high internal reliability (Cronbach\u2019s alpha\u2009=\u20090.873). Age positively correlated with SAKT scores and the\n                      <jats:italic>Help and Legal Regulations<\/jats:italic>\n                      subscale of the SAAS, whereas no significant correlation was found with other SAAS subscales or the total SAAS score. Female students scored higher on several scales. Grade level significantly influenced awareness across all SAAS subdomains, excluding\n                      <jats:italic>Symptoms and Effects of Substance Use<\/jats:italic>\n                      . No significant relationships were found between outcomes and parental education, family structure, or personal history of smoking and alcohol use. Students who had received curricular education on substance use demonstrated significantly higher knowledge levels.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Knowledge and awareness levels differed by year of study, with higher scores observed in senior students. However, targeted improvements\u2014particularly in recognizing symptoms and health effects\u2014are warranted to better equip future physicians for their roles in prevention, early detection, and public health advocacy.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1186\/s12875-026-03386-3","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,25]],"date-time":"2026-05-25T10:05:57Z","timestamp":1779703557000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Differences in substance abuse knowledge and awareness by year of study among medical students"],"prefix":"10.1186","volume":"27","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8343-3180","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Elif","family":"Deniz-\u015eafak","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"B\u00fc\u015fra","family":"Adl\u0131m","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"297","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,25]]},"reference":[{"key":"3386_CR1","unstructured":"Drugs B, Behavior. The science of addiction. Bethesda (MD): National Institutes of Health. 2020. Available from: https:\/\/nida.nih.gov\/publications\/drugs-brains-behavior-science-addiction\/drug-misuse-addiction. Accessed on 06 April 2026."},{"key":"3386_CR2","unstructured":"World Health Organization (WHO). Alcohol, drugs and addictive behaviours. 2024. Available from: https:\/\/www.who.int\/teams\/mental-health-and-substance-use\/alcohol-drugs-and-addictive-behaviours\/terminology. Accessed on 30 March 2026."},{"key":"3386_CR3","first-page":"107","volume":"5","author":"H Alt\u0131nta\u015f","year":"2004","unstructured":"Alt\u0131nta\u015f H, Temel F, Benli E, et al. First-year medical students\u2019 knowledge, opinions, and attitudes regarding substance dependence. J Addict. 2004;5:107\u201314.","journal-title":"J Addict"},{"key":"3386_CR4","first-page":"67","volume":"8","author":"\u0130 Aldemir","year":"2022","unstructured":"Aldemir \u0130, Do\u011fan S. Assessment of nursing students\u2019 awareness of substance abuse and their well-being. Int Anatolia Acad Online J Health Sci. 2022;8:67\u201384.","journal-title":"Int Anatolia Acad Online J Health Sci"},{"key":"3386_CR5","first-page":"41","volume":"19","author":"\u015e \u00d6zay K\u00f6se, G\u00fcl","year":"2018","unstructured":"\u00d6zay K\u00f6se, G\u00fcl \u015e. Substance abuse awareness scale: validity and reliability study. Inonu Univ J Educ. 2018;19:41\u201356.","journal-title":"Inonu Univ J Educ"},{"key":"3386_CR6","first-page":"206","volume":"1","author":"L Baysan Arabac\u0131","year":"2021","unstructured":"Baysan Arabac\u0131 L, Yurtsever B. Validity and reliability of the Substance Abuse Awareness Scale and the Substance Abuse Knowledge Test in adults. Fenerbah\u00e7e Univ J Health Sci. 2021;1:206\u201325.","journal-title":"Fenerbah\u00e7e Univ J Health Sci"},{"issue":"8","key":"3386_CR7","first-page":"264","volume":"2017","author":"E \u00d6zay K\u00f6se","year":"2017","unstructured":"\u00d6zay K\u00f6se E, G\u00fcl \u015e, Keskin B. Secondary school students\u2019 knowledge levels about substance abuse. Int J Turkish Educational Sci. 2017;2017(8):264\u201371.","journal-title":"Int J Turkish Educational Sci"},{"key":"3386_CR8","first-page":"52","volume":"7","author":"\u015e G\u00fcl","year":"2016","unstructured":"G\u00fcl \u015e, Keskin B, \u00d6zay K\u00f6se \u00d6. The effect of the life-based learning approach on students\u2019 knowledge levels regarding substance addiction. Adnan Menderes Univ Fac Educ J Educational Sci. 2016;7:52\u201364.","journal-title":"Adnan Menderes Univ Fac Educ J Educational Sci"},{"issue":"2","key":"3386_CR9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"77","DOI":"10.1191\/1478088706qp063oa","volume":"3","author":"V Braun","year":"2006","unstructured":"Braun V, Clarke V. Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qual Res Psychol. 2006;3(2):77\u2013101.","journal-title":"Qual Res Psychol"},{"key":"3386_CR10","first-page":"12","volume":"3","author":"Y \u015eahin","year":"2023","unstructured":"\u015eahin Y, Zengin MN, Yayla E, et al. Assessment of nicotine, alcohol, and caffeine use among medical faculty students: Original research. Mu\u015f Alparslan Univ J Health Sci. 2023;3:12\u201321.","journal-title":"Mu\u015f Alparslan Univ J Health Sci"},{"key":"3386_CR11","first-page":"30","volume":"3","author":"E Er\u015fahino\u011flu","year":"2023","unstructured":"Er\u015fahino\u011flu E, Sabahi \u0130S, Tamam L. Orthorexia nervosa among medical students. \u00c7ukurova Med Student J. 2023;3:30\u20139.","journal-title":"\u00c7ukurova Med Student J"},{"key":"3386_CR12","first-page":"476","volume":"2","author":"A Mayda","year":"2010","unstructured":"Mayda A, Ger\u00e7ek \u00c7, G\u00fcne\u015f C, H\u00fcseyino\u011flu A, G\u00fcler M, Y\u0131ld\u0131r\u0131m A. The relationship between the frequency of depressive symptoms in medical faculty students and demographic characteristics, smoking, alcohol and substance use, dominant hand, and exposure to violence. T\u00fcbav Sci J. 2010;2:476\u201383.","journal-title":"T\u00fcbav Sci J"},{"key":"3386_CR13","first-page":"20","volume":"4","author":"S Sara\u00e7o\u011flu","year":"2020","unstructured":"Sara\u00e7o\u011flu S, \u00d6zt\u00fcrk F. An evaluation of tobacco control policies and tobacco consumption in Turkey. Political Economic Theory. 2020;4:20\u201344.","journal-title":"Political Economic Theory"},{"key":"3386_CR14","first-page":"212","volume":"18","author":"\u00d6E Ko\u00e7","year":"2020","unstructured":"Ko\u00e7 \u00d6E, Ko\u00e7 N. An examination of the relationship between alcohol consumption and the special consumption tax levied on alcohol. J Manage Econ Res. 2020;18:212\u201326.","journal-title":"J Manage Econ Res"},{"key":"3386_CR15","first-page":"1071","volume":"47","author":"FC \u00d6zt\u00fcrk","year":"2023","unstructured":"\u00d6zt\u00fcrk FC. Substance dependence and the investigation of substance use in Turkey. J Fac Pharm Ankara Univ. 2023;47:1071\u201383.","journal-title":"J Fac Pharm Ankara Univ"},{"key":"3386_CR16","unstructured":"\u00d6zt\u00fcrk T. An investigation of the relationship between substance dependence awareness and life satisfaction among university students: Master\u2019s Thesis, \u00dcsk\u00fcdar University, Institute of Social Sciences. 2018. https:\/\/tez.yok.gov.tr\/UlusalTezMerkezi\/tezDetay.jsp?id=3h9enNFmen8aUigpZljkww&no=6SRhEeEvOomcD7D3veP3PA."},{"key":"3386_CR17","first-page":"1","volume":"23","author":"E Bekircan","year":"2022","unstructured":"Bekircan E, \u00dcn \u0130, Ayy\u0131ld\u0131z N\u0130, Usta G. The relationship between substance abuse awareness and self-esteem among university students. Addict J. 2022;23:1\u20137.","journal-title":"Addict J"},{"key":"3386_CR18","first-page":"122","volume":"18","author":"A B\u00fcy\u00fckbayram","year":"2017","unstructured":"B\u00fcy\u00fckbayram A, Arabac\u0131 LB, Arabac\u0131o\u011flu \u0130, Ayy\u0131ld\u0131z C, Acar K. Attitudes of nurses from generations X and Y working in a psychiatric clinic towards individuals with alcohol and substance abuse and mental disorders. J Addict. 2017;18:122\u201334.","journal-title":"J Addict"},{"key":"3386_CR19","unstructured":"\u00d6rsel CF. Awareness levels of Ankara Y\u0131ld\u0131r\u0131m Beyaz\u0131t University students regarding narcotic and stimulant substances. Master\u2019s Thesis, Police Academy, Institute of Security Sciences. 2020. https:\/\/tez.yok.gov.tr\/UlusalTezMerkezi\/tezDetay.jsp?id=VuVPEwIfhW7QHwN7HEa27g&no=vUkjlsTNki9WcBz40vUhNA."},{"key":"3386_CR20","first-page":"101","volume":"69","author":"T \u00c7etin","year":"2024","unstructured":"\u00c7etin T, G\u00fcne\u015f H. Examining the awareness and knowledge levels of sports science students regarding substance abuse (Firat University example). J Social Sci. 2024;69:101\u201313.","journal-title":"J Social Sci"},{"key":"3386_CR21","first-page":"239","volume":"140","author":"D Karabulut","year":"2023","unstructured":"Karabulut D, Y\u0131ld\u0131z K, Karabulut \u00d6, \u015eahin \u0130. Determining teachers\u2019 awareness levels regarding substance abuse. J Acad Social Sci. 2023;140:239\u201353.","journal-title":"J Acad Social Sci"},{"key":"3386_CR22","first-page":"51","volume":"6","author":"Y Arslan","year":"2016","unstructured":"Arslan Y. Who is better at empathy? A micro sociological study on empathy. Batman Univ J Life Sci. 2016;6:51\u201364.","journal-title":"Batman Univ J Life Sci"},{"key":"3386_CR23","unstructured":"Erol N, K\u0131l\u0131\u00e7 C, Ulusoy M, Ke\u00e7eci M, \u015eim\u015fek Z. Turkish Ministry of Health General Directorate of Primary Health Care, mental health profile of Turkey report. First edition. Eksen Tan\u0131t\u0131m, Ankara. 1998:77\u201394. https:\/\/toaz.info\/doc-view-4."},{"key":"3386_CR24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"119","DOI":"10.1186\/1471-2296-15-119","volume":"15","author":"F Ketterer","year":"2014","unstructured":"Ketterer F, Symons L, Lambrechts MC, Mairiaux P, Godderis L, et al. What factors determine Belgian general practitioners\u2019 approaches to detecting and managing substance abuse? A qualitative study based on the I-Change Model. BMC Fam Pract. 2014;15:119.","journal-title":"BMC Fam Pract"},{"key":"3386_CR25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"913","DOI":"10.1001\/archinte.159.9.913","volume":"159","author":"MF Weaver","year":"1999","unstructured":"Weaver MF, Jarvis MA, Schnoll SH. Role of the primary care physician in problems of substance abuse. Arch Intern Med. 1999;159:913\u201324.","journal-title":"Arch Intern Med"}],"container-title":["BMC Primary Care"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1186\/s12875-026-03386-3","content-type":"text\/html","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1186\/s12875-026-03386-3.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1186\/s12875-026-03386-3.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,31]],"date-time":"2026-07-31T18:08:50Z","timestamp":1785521330000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/10.1186\/s12875-026-03386-3"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,25]]},"references-count":25,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,12]]}},"alternative-id":["3386"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/s12875-026-03386-3","relation":{},"ISSN":["2731-4553"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2731-4553","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,25]]},"assertion":[{"value":"4 February 2026","order":1,"name":"received","label":"Received","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"18 May 2026","order":2,"name":"accepted","label":"Accepted","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"25 May 2026","order":3,"name":"first_online","label":"First Online","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"The study was conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Ethical approval was obtained from the Clinical Research Ethics Committee of Erciyes University Faculty of Medicine (Decision No: 2023\/726; Date: November 8, 2023). The administration of the questionnaire to medical students was approved by the Dean's Office of Erciyes University Faculty of Medicine on October 10, 2023 (Document No: E-49127060-299-523734). Written informed consent was obtained from all participants prior to data collection.","order":1,"name":"Ethics","label":"Ethics approval and consent to participate","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Declarations"}},{"value":"Not applicable.","order":2,"name":"Ethics","label":"Consent for publication","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Declarations"}},{"value":"The authors declare no competing interests.","order":3,"name":"Ethics","label":"Competing interests","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Declarations"}}],"article-number":"280"}}