title: A study exploring the autism awareness of first grade nursing and medical students in Istanbul, Turkey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the level of awareness about childhood autism among first-grade nursing and medical students.
  
  
  METHODS
  The descriptive study was conducted at Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey, in December 2012, and comprised first-grade nursing and medical students. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Association between categorical variables was determined and p<0.05 was considered statistically significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 175 students, 138(78.9%) were aware of autism, 14(8%) of them being highly aware and 124(70.9%) moderately aware, whereas 37(21.1%) were not aware. There was a significant difference in the awareness level as far as gender was concerned as 102(82.9%) females and 36(69.2%) males were aware (p=0.043). Moreover, 104(59.4%) participants were aware that autism was a neurodevelopmental disorder, 62(67.4%) of them being nursing and 42(50.6%) being medical students (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  First-grade medical and nursing students could be considered relatively well aware of autism as their awareness level was in between that of the general public and healthcare professionals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Marmara University Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nimet Emel
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Luleci
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Marmara University Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Seyhan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hidiroglu
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Marmara University Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Melda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karavus
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Marmara University Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Suzan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Celik
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Marmara University Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Dicle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cetiner
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Marmara University Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Emre
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Koc
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Marmara University Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Tevhid Gazi
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Kasikci
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Marmara University Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Yagmur Hazal
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Sadirvan
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Fatih Sultan Mehmet Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karavus
authors.affiliation: Department of Pscyhiatry, Dokuz Eylul University Faculty of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Topuzoglu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001321:Autistic Disorder; D001364:Awareness; D002983:Clinical Competence; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013337:Students, Medical; D013338:Students, Nursing; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014421:Turkey; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Autism, Awareness, Nursing students, Medical students.