Knowledge and Awareness of Interventional Radiology Among Final-Year Medical Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

Aim: Interventional Radiology (IR) is a rapidly expanding field providing minimally invasive, image-guided diagnostic and therapeutic procedures; however, awareness of IR among future physicians may remain limited. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and awareness of IR among final-year medical students and to examine factors associated with knowledge levels.Material and Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among final-year medical students at a university medical faculty during the 2022–2023 academic year. Of 182 eligible students, 165 participated between July 1 and September 30, 2023. A researcher-developed 28-item questionnaire was administered face-to-face. Eight items (five closed-ended, three open-ended) were used to calculate an IR knowledge score ranging from 0 to 8, expressed as a proportion. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 25.0.Results: Of the 165 participants, 72.7% (n = 120) reported witnessing an IR procedure during their radiology internship. Most participants (55.8%, n = 92) rated their IR knowledge as poor, and 81.8% (n = 135) reported being unable to provide adequate information about IR. The same proportion (81.8%, n = 135) believed that primary care physicians should have knowledge of IR. The mean IR knowledge score was 0.58 ± 0.20.Conclusion: Final-year medical students demonstrated moderate knowledge of IR, while their self-perceived knowledge and confidence were limited. Gaps were particularly evident regarding the professional scope and training pathway of interventional radiologists. Structured undergraduate education and increased exposure to IR may help address these gaps.