Sexual attitudes, behaviour changes and opinions of interns in Izmir, Turkey.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate sexual attitudes, behaviour and opinions of students at the end of their medical education studies in Izmir, Turkey, and compare findings with the results of the study carried out when they were first-year students.


METHODS
A cross-sectional and longitudinal study, with data collected via a questionnaire.


RESULTS
'Friends' were most often mentioned as the source of their personal sexual information by students on both occasions. Use of the 'internet' increased significantly during the five years. Pornography and health professionals/specialists' also gained in importance but remained among the less frequently used sources of information. The most frequent factor affecting sexual attitudes and behaviour for both years was 'my own desire and values'. Most (74.8%) interns had taken only a few sexual health histories and 16.5% never; 35% believed their education would enable them to take one. Nearly half (48.5%) said being a medical student changed their opinions on sexuality and 25.7% said they changed their behaviour.


CONCLUSIONS
Although changes were observed in sexual attitudes, behaviour and opinions between the two questionnaires many problems still exist. This study may add to the improvement of medical education regarding sexual health education and its practices.
Ozan
Sema
S
Medical Education Department, Dokuz Eylul University School of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey.
Timbil
Sevgi
S
Aras
Sahbal
S
Can Bilgin
Ahmet
A
Orcin
Esmahan
E
Semin
Semih
S
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends / Q000523:psychology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D012736:Sex Education; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014421:Turkey