Psychometric Testing of the Turkish Version of the Skin Cancer and Sun Knowledge Scale in Nursing Students

Abstract

The present study aimed assesses the nursing students' knowledge of skin cancer and sun and their sun protection behaviors. This descriptive cross-sectional study was performed from May to June 2014 with a convenience sample of 376 undergraduate nursing students from one nursing faculty located in Izmir. Mean age of the students was 21.56 ± 1.96 years. The mean score that the females obtained from the level of knowledge and protection behaviors scales was significantly higher than that of the males. Older age group (≥22 years) obtained higher scores on the knowledge and protection behaviors scales than younger group (≤21 years). Nursing students' knowledge of, and behavior regarding, skin cancer and sun health were insufficient. Equipping them with the necessary knowledge and behaviors related to skin cancer and sun health by developing training programs and strategies on the issue is of utmost importance.

Assessment of sun‐related behaviour, knowledge and attitudes among nursing students

“…Yilmaz et al described knowledge levels of the first and fourth year nursing students were at low (7.6 out of 15) and medium level (9.4 out of 15), respectively . Ozturk Haney et al also reported Turkish nursing students did not have enough knowledge about skin cancer and, therefore, had poor practice in terms of sun protective behaviours . Furthermore, another study conducted among health services vocational school students (aged between 18 and 30) obtained similar results (8.64 out of 15 points) …”

“…Nursing students will be ideally suited for the provision of community knowledge, preventive behaviours and influencing social norms. Therefore, they should also be included in education and campaigns against skin cancer, equipping them with the necessary knowledge and behaviours related to skin cancer and sun health . Nursing students should be encouraged to protect themselves effectively from UV damage, while promoting the message of effective sun protection to future patients.…”

“…The global increase in the worldwide incidence of skin cancers has become a major public health concern . Even though all underlying factors have yet to be completely understood, both excessive acute and intermittent sun exposure have been shown to increase the risk of most skin cancer development …”

“…Nursing students represent a well‐educated population, whose awareness of the association between sun exposure and developing skin cancer should involve positive practices and adequate attitudes towards sun exposure. Furthermore, as future healthcare professionals, they will play an important role in social training and promoting healthy behaviours including protection against sunlight . Therefore, nursing students represent an important population for planning future interventions to reduce the rising rates of skin cancer.…”

Development of sun protection behaviors in preschoolers: A systematic review

“…Since the efficiency of these programs has not been evaluated for the last 10 years, there is a strong need to plan experimental studies and prospective cohort studies on these programs. The sample of the school-based studies on sun protection in Turkish society consisted of university students [39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46] , high school students 47,48 , secondary school students [49][50][51][52] , primary and secondary school students 53 , and primary school students 54 . High school students were included along with their teachers 48 in one of these studies, while primary school students were included along with their parents 54 in another study.…”