Clinical Exposure Improves Medical Students’ Understanding of Bariatric Surgery: A Cross-Sectional Study at Mansoura University
Keywords:
Bariatric Surgery, Education, Medical, Graduate, Health Education, Surveys and QuestionnairesAbstract
Background: The "100 Million Health" project in Egypt estimates that 29.5% of adult males and 49.5% of adult females suffer from obesity. Obesity is considered a significant contributory factor for many serious complications, such as insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular diseases. Metabolic/Bariatric surgery (MBS) is considered one of the effective interventions. Despite this, awareness remains low among certain communities. This study aimed to assess the impact of the medical curriculum at Mansoura University on improving students' knowledge and attitudes toward MBS.
Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among first-year students and interns at Mansoura University. There is no dedicated curriculum for MBS at Mansoura University. Assuming a minimum response rate of 65%, the calculated sample size was 670 (a minimum of 351 interns and 319 first-year students). A 30-question self-reported survey was distributed via social media platforms and on campus from the 4th of November 2024 to the 4th of January 2025. The questionnaire was developed based on a comprehensive literature review on MBS awareness and educational interventions. It was designed to assess demographics (gender, religion, residency, nationality, and BMI), knowledge (15 items), and attitudes (15 items) toward bariatric MBS, with scores assigned for correct answers (1 point), incorrect answers (0 point), or "maybe" (0.5 point). To ensure content validity, the initial draft of the questionnaire was reviewed by a panel of three experts in MBS and medical education. A pilot version was tested on 30 medical students (excluded from final analysis). Reliability testing was done using Jamovi software, and internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha, which yielded a value of 0.66 with corrections.
Results: A total of 683 students (355 (52%) interns and 328 (48%) students in their first year of medical school) accepted to participate in the survey with a response rate of 97.57%. A significantly higher proportion of interns (81%) believe that surgical intervention is the best way to treat obesity compared to first-year medical students (63%) (p<0.001). There was a major lack of knowledge on the eligibility criteria for MBS (interns, 9.5%, and first-year students, 8.5%) with no significant difference (p>0.9). Interns also demonstrated greater awareness of long-term consequences (76% vs. 57%, p<0.001), pregnancy as a contraindication (70% vs. 53%, p<0.001), and procedural types (40% vs. 24%, p<0.001). Overall, Interns demonstrated a significantly higher median knowledge score (9.50) compared to first-year medical students (9.00) (p<0.001). Interns had higher median attitude scores (7.50 vs. 7.00, p<0.001) and were less likely to view MBS as "cheating" (6.2% vs. 16%, p<0.001). Univariate analysis revealed significant associations between attitude scores and years in medical school (p<0.001), gender (p=0.005), and nationality group (p=0.043). Correlation revealed a weak positive relation between knowledge and attitude scores (Pearson's r = 0.13)(figure).
Conclusion: While undergraduate education improved knowledge and attitudes, persistent gaps in understanding eligibility and a slightly negative perception of MBS underscore the need for enhanced teaching strategies, such as curriculum revisions and interactive learning, to address low awareness and optimize future physicians’ preparedness.
References
Not applicable
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
Categories
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Rem Ehab Abdelkader, Mohamed Abdulrazek, Aya E. Egeza, Omar Mohamed Ali, Farha O. Elsherbeny, Hamza A. Abualkishik, Lena Ehab Abdelkader, Rodina S. Elkhouly, Toqa Elbaz, Ali Haroona, Basma El Amir Alaa, Abdelrahman Rami Gharaibeh, Baher Salah Alsadany, Safwan Raid Dodin, Hosam Hamed
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- The Author retains copyright in the Work, where the term “Work” shall include all digital objects that may result in subsequent electronic publication or distribution.
- Upon acceptance of the Work, the author shall grant to the Publisher the right of first publication of the Work.
- The Author shall grant to the Publisher and its agents the nonexclusive perpetual right and license to publish, archive, and make accessible the Work in whole or in part in all forms of media now or hereafter known under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License or its equivalent, which, for the avoidance of doubt, allows others to copy, distribute, and transmit the Work under the following conditions:
- Attribution—other users must attribute the Work in the manner specified by the author as indicated on the journal Web site; with the understanding that the above condition can be waived with permission from the Author and that where the Work or any of its elements is in the public domain under applicable law, that status is in no way affected by the license.
- The Author is able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the nonexclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the Work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), as long as there is provided in the document an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post online a prepublication manuscript (but not the Publisher’s final formatted PDF version of the Work) in institutional repositories or on their Websites prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work. Any such posting made before acceptance and publication of the Work shall be updated upon publication to include a reference to the Publisher-assigned DOI (Digital Object Identifier) and a link to the online abstract for the final published Work in the Journal.
- Upon Publisher’s request, the Author agrees to furnish promptly to Publisher, at the Author’s own expense, written evidence of the permissions, licenses, and consents for use of third-party material included within the Work, except as determined by Publisher to be covered by the principles of Fair Use.
- The Author represents and warrants that:
- the Work is the Author’s original work;
- the Author has not transferred, and will not transfer, exclusive rights in the Work to any third party;
- the Work is not pending review or under consideration by another publisher;
- the Work has not previously been published;
- the Work contains no misrepresentation or infringement of the Work or property of other authors or third parties; and
- the Work contains no libel, invasion of privacy, or other unlawful matter.
- The Author agrees to indemnify and hold Publisher harmless from the Author’s breach of the representations and warranties contained in Paragraph 6 above, as well as any claim or proceeding relating to Publisher’s use and publication of any content contained in the Work, including third-party content.
Enforcement of copyright
The IJMS takes the protection of copyright very seriously.
If the IJMS discovers that you have used its copyright materials in contravention of the license above, the IJMS may bring legal proceedings against you seeking reparation and an injunction to stop you using those materials. You could also be ordered to pay legal costs.
If you become aware of any use of the IJMS' copyright materials that contravenes or may contravene the license above, please report this by email to contact@ijms.org
Infringing material
If you become aware of any material on the website that you believe infringes your or any other person's copyright, please report this by email to contact@ijms.org
