Knowledge, attitudes and practices about sun exposure and photoprotection in outpatients attending dermatology clinics at four hospitals in Lima, Peru

Tran

Environ Health Prev Med

et al. 2020

Background: Raising awareness and educating people regarding practices for skin cancer or melanoma prevention are critical in the context of the adversely increasing effects of global climate change. This study aimed to explore the knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding skin cancer prevention and to determine the associated factors to knowledge, attitudes, and practices among dermatological patients in Vietnam. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 590 dermatological patients between 18 and 82 years of age, who received an examination or treatment from the National Hospital of Dermatology in Hanoi, Vietnam, from September to December 2018. The respondents' attitudes on skin cancer and cancer prevention were assessed via face-to-face interviews with a structured questionnaire conducted by trained interviewers. Results: Of the 590 respondents, the majority of people had correct responses to the question regarding skin cancer knowledge. Among the total participants, 39.8% thought that they were at risk of skin cancer, and 13.8% believed their occupation increased their skin cancer risk. The majority of respondents used hats (94.9%) and sunscreen skin coats (89.5%) and went into the shade (86.3%) when exposed to the sun. Women were less likely to be aware of their skin cancer risk but were more likely to practice prevention behaviors. Conclusion: Our results show that dermatological patients have acceptable knowledge towards skin cancer prevention, but still need to change their behavior to prevent the risk of skin cancer. This study highlights the importance of education to raise awareness regarding skin cancer in order to promote practice prevention strategies for skin cancer in Vietnam.

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 66%

Attitudes about and practices for skin cancer prevention among patients with dermatological issues in Hanoi, Vietnam: a cross-sectional study

Tran

Environ Health Prev Med

et al. 2020

Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology

“…These results are very favourable for the participants, because individuals who are in a higher stage for one behaviour are more likely to be in a higher stage for another health-promoting behaviour as well [49]. Results of adherence to sunscreen use revealed that participants' knowledge scores were higher than their motivation scores, which is in line with the results of Thomas-Gavelan et al [50], because having an acceptable degree of awareness does not guarantee the use of sufficient photoprotection measures in daily life.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

A randomised trial to demonstrate the effectiveness of electronic messages on sun protection behaviours

Szabó¹,

Ócsai²,

Csabai³

et al. 2015

Message exposure is effective at changing a variety of health behaviours. Our aim was to improve sun protection habits of a volunteer sample. We conducted a randomised, non-blinded, investigator-initiated trial (from 1st June to 31st August in 2011) on the effect of an electronic text-message system on sun protection behaviours. The assessments of 149 healthy volunteer participants took place at the Clinical Department of Dermatology and Allergology at the University of Szeged in Hungary. Psychological and medical assessments were also made. Total motivation scores for adherence to sunscreen use improved at a nearly significant level (t=-1.954, p=0.054). The intervention group used sunscreens more often than the other groups according to their sun exposure diaries (F=8.173, p<0.05) and their interview results (F=3.44, p<0.05). Using electronic messages offers an effective method to improve sun protection behaviours. Our intervention is a cost-effective method and it can easily be implemented at worksites.

“…In addition, the use associated factors being female, older age, sunscreen use in situations where the skin was burned, knowledge of the negative effects of the sun on the skin and history of skin cancer (13) . In Lima, Peru, a study of 364 outpatients treated at dermatology clinics, photoprotection of users, 38.4% used these products on a daily basis (14) .This percentage is still below the desired, but was higher we got, which can It is related to the fact that a restricted sample, only…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 68%

Solar Exposure, Photoprotection and SelfExamination of the Skin in Araxá, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Silva¹,

Franã‡A-Botelho²

2017

IAM

Objectives: Skin cancer is the most common global malignancy and effective prevention is photoprotection. The aim of this study was to evaluate aspects related to sun exposure, photoprotection and self-examination of the skin in the population of a city in the interior of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Methods: Data collection was done through an online form (Google Docs Forms) and involved 389 participants in 2017. Results: As for the time of daily sun exposure, 80.7% of the interviewees have exposure of up to two hours a day, however the time of greatest exposure is between 10 and 16 hours (57.6%). The daily use of sunscreen is performed by only 20.7% of the volunteers. Among those who apply the sunscreen, only 6.2% use the product following the manufacturer's recommendations for reapplication. The use of hats, caps and other measures of physical protection is only frequent in 13.9% of the sample. When asked about skin self-examination information, 63.8% stated that they did not know about this exam and only 8% did it frequently. Conclusion: In view of the results obtained in the present study, it is possible to conclude that due to the habits of sun exposure, associated with low adhesion to photoprotection and self-examination, the population is at risk for the development of skin cancer and requires more effective preventive actions.