Igiene e Sanità Pubblica 2025; 98 (6): 343-356
Narmatha K* .Diwakar R*, Mrs Saranya K** , Paintamilselvi P, Yogesh*** Manickam Dominic Savio****
Affiliation
*SRM Medical College Hospital & Research centre, SRM Institute of Science & Technology
** Department of Community Medicine ,Sree Balaji Medical College Tamilnadu, India
*** Department of Statistics, Muthyammal College of Arts And Science
**** Department of Community Medicine, Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital ,Bharath Institute of Higher Education And Research
Keywords: Road safety, Medical students, Knowledge, Behavior, Attitude
ABSTRACT
Background: Road traffic accidents (RTAs) are a major public health concern, particularly among young adults. This study assessed road safety awareness, attitudes, and behaviors among medical students in Chennai, India.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 320 undergraduate medical students and their interns. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 22.0. Logistic regression was used to identify the associations between demographic variables and outcomes.
Results: Overall, 66.9% of the participants demonstrated good knowledge of road safety, 77.2% exhibited good behavior, and 52.2% held positive attitudes. Sex significantly influenced both knowledge (females: adjusted OR = 0.42, 95% CI: 0.23–0.77, p = 0.005) and attitudes (females: OR = 1.84, 95% CI: 1.06–3.19, p = 0.030). Formal road safety education was associated with better behavior (OR = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.32–0.92, p = 0.023).
Conclusion: Although knowledge and self-reported behavior were relatively high, positive attitudes were less prevalent. Gender and formal education significantly impacted road safety awareness and adherence. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to improve road safety practices among healthcare professionals.
FULL ARTICLE DOWNLOAD