Knowledge of statins' therapeutic and pleiotropic actions: A comparative analysis among Health Science Students by gender and institution type

Statins are commonly prescribed lipid-lowering agents, recognized not only for their cardiovascular benefits but also for a range of pleiotropic effects. Despite their clinical significance, awareness of these broader effects among future healthcare professionals remains unclear. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and understanding of statins, including their pleiotropic properties, among clinical-stage Health Science students and across their gender as well as institution type. A cross-sectional survey was carried out among 370 clinical stage medical and dental students in governmental and private universities. Data were collected using an online questionnaire (19-item). A Composite Knowledge Score was calculated to assess student comprehension, and subgroup differences were examined using the Chi-square test. Of the 370 participants invited, 303 responded, resulting in a response rate of 81.9%. Of these respondents, 59.1% were female and 40.9% male. A total of 59.6% attended the private university, while 40.4% were from the governmental institution. Distribution by faculty was as follows: 56.0% from Medicine and 44.0% from Dentistry. Based on the Composite Knowledge Score, 27.2% of students demonstrated poor knowledge, 44.7% had good understanding, and 28.1% achieved excellent scores. Medical students scored significantly higher than dental students, while no significant differences were observed with respect to gender or university type. Overall, Health Science students exhibited moderate awareness of statins and their pleiotropic effects. These results highlight the need for targeted educational initiatives to enhance comprehension of the full therapeutic potential of statins across disciplines.