Sadeel A Shanshal, Shahad M Khaleel, Sawsan H Hammoodi
{"title":"Sun Exposure and Usage of Sun Protection: Knowledge, Perception and Practice among University Students.","authors":"Sadeel A Shanshal, Shahad M Khaleel, Sawsan H Hammoodi","doi":"10.21315/mjms2024.31.2.19","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Exposure to the sun is vital for the body but is associated with problem ranging from pigmentation to cancer. Therefore, knowledge about protective measures is critical. This study aims to assess undergraduate students' knowledge, perception and practices towards the adverse effects of sun exposure and the usage of sun-protective measures.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional study was conducted between 1 September 2022 and 20 September 2022 using a web-based questionnaire. Undergraduate students from medical and non-medical colleges in Iraqi universities participated in this study. Descriptive and inferential statistics and logistic regression were performed to analyse the data.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 655 students participated in this study. The knowledge level of more than one-half of the students (53%) was inadequate. Approximately three-quarters of the study sample used sunscreens products. Skin type was the main factor in choosing the appropriate sunscreen product. Media and advice from specialists were the main factors affecting participants' usage of sunscreens. Gender (females), college (medical), year(s) of study (sixth), residence (urban), daily sun exposure (1 h-3 h) and less-than-normal vitamin D levels were found to be significantly associated with better knowledge (<i>P</i>-value < 0.05). Age, gender, being a student in medical colleges and not knowing vitamin D levels were found to be significant predictors of participants' knowledge.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The low level of knowledge reported among the participants' calls for more attention from health authorities in educating the public about the harmful effects of sun exposure and the importance of adopting protective measures.</p>","PeriodicalId":47388,"journal":{"name":"Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.1000,"publicationDate":"2024-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11057839/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.21315/mjms2024.31.2.19","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2024/4/23 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q4","JCRName":"MEDICINE, RESEARCH & EXPERIMENTAL","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: Exposure to the sun is vital for the body but is associated with problem ranging from pigmentation to cancer. Therefore, knowledge about protective measures is critical. This study aims to assess undergraduate students' knowledge, perception and practices towards the adverse effects of sun exposure and the usage of sun-protective measures.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between 1 September 2022 and 20 September 2022 using a web-based questionnaire. Undergraduate students from medical and non-medical colleges in Iraqi universities participated in this study. Descriptive and inferential statistics and logistic regression were performed to analyse the data.
Results: A total of 655 students participated in this study. The knowledge level of more than one-half of the students (53%) was inadequate. Approximately three-quarters of the study sample used sunscreens products. Skin type was the main factor in choosing the appropriate sunscreen product. Media and advice from specialists were the main factors affecting participants' usage of sunscreens. Gender (females), college (medical), year(s) of study (sixth), residence (urban), daily sun exposure (1 h-3 h) and less-than-normal vitamin D levels were found to be significantly associated with better knowledge (P-value < 0.05). Age, gender, being a student in medical colleges and not knowing vitamin D levels were found to be significant predictors of participants' knowledge.
Conclusion: The low level of knowledge reported among the participants' calls for more attention from health authorities in educating the public about the harmful effects of sun exposure and the importance of adopting protective measures.
期刊介绍：
The Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences (MJMS) is a peer-reviewed, open-access, fully online journal that is published at least six times a year. The journal’s scope encompasses all aspects of medical sciences including biomedical, allied health, clinical and social sciences. We accept high quality papers from basic to translational research especially from low & middle income countries, as classified by the United Nations & World Bank (https://datahelpdesk.worldbank.org/knowledgebase/ articles/906519), with the aim that published research will benefit back the bottom billion population from these countries. Manuscripts submitted from developed or high income countries to MJMS must contain data and information that will benefit the socio-health and bio-medical sciences of these low and middle income countries. The MJMS editorial board consists of internationally regarded clinicians and scientists from low and middle income countries.
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