Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41732612›Full record

ArticleCureus2026

Improving Insights of Medical Students Regarding Sexually Transmitted Diseases: A Quality Improvement Project.

Sude Cavdaroglu, Atakan Yuksel, Sevval Ilayda Sönmez, David Terence Thomas

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cureus, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Sude CavdarogluEmergency Medicine, Arnavutkoy State Hospital, Istanbul, TUR.
Atakan YukselGeneral Practice, Umraniye District Health Directorate, Istanbul, TUR.
Sevval Ilayda SönmezPediatrics and Child Health, Istanbul Zeynep Kamil Maternity and Children's Diseases Health Training and Research Center, Istanbul, TUR.
David Terence ThomasPediatric Surgery, Hamidiye Faculty of Medicine, University of Health Sciences, Istanbul, TUR.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionSexually transmitted diseases (STDs) remain a critical component of medical education, yet gaps in knowledge and misconceptions persist among students due to overwhelming curricula and lack of clinical integration.

methodsThis quality improvement project (QIP), conducted at Maltepe University Faculty of Medicine, aimed to enhance students' understanding of STDs through a dual-cycle intervention using the plan-do-study-act (PDSA) framework. A baseline survey (n=180) revealed inconsistent knowledge levels and prevalent misconceptions across academic years. In response, two interventions, peer-led educational presentations and informative posters, were implemented based on participant feedback. Knowledge was assessed using 20-item surveys before and after each intervention. To evaluate the effectiveness of the educational interventions, knowledge levels were assessed on a 5-point scale (1=None to 5=Very Good). The dataset was analyzed as independent samples because the student-by-student pairing (ID mapping) was not available in the summary file. A Mann-Whitney U Test and an independent samples t-test were also performed to compare the mean scores, which are common metrics in medical education literature.

resultsThe average knowledge score improved significantly from 3.56 to 4.42 following peer education and from 3.71 to 4.28 after poster exposure. Specific knowledge of sexually transmitted infections such as trichomoniasis and hepatitis B increased markedly, while myths surrounding transmission routes were partially corrected. Students rated the presentation more helpful than posters (4.33 vs. 3.79 on a 5-point scale).

conclusionDespite limitations including low participation during exam periods, the interventions proved effective and well-received. This project underscores the value of peer-led and visual education in bridging knowledge gaps and student-tailored sexual health education in medical curricula.

Indexed as

clinical year medical studentspeer educationplan-do-study-act (pdsa)quality improvement projectsexually transmitted diseases (stds)

Identifiers

PMID41732612
PMCPMC12925647

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.