Sun Protection Knowledge And Behaviour Among University Students In Hungary

• Published in: Value in health Vol. 20; no. 9; p. A805
• Main Authors: Németh, N, Boncz, Endrei, D, Bánkyné Perjés, B, Horváthné Kívés, Z, Pusztafalvi, H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lawrenceville Elsevier Science Ltd 01.10.2017
• Subjects: Belonging; Chi-square test; College students; Habits; Medical schools; Medical students; Medical treatment; Melanoma; Protective factors; Questionnaires; Random sampling; Skin cancer; Skin diseases; Skin melanoma; Sociodemographics; Statistical sampling; Statistics; Sun; Sunbathing; Sunscreens; Ultraviolet radiation; University students; Women
• ISSN: 1098-3015; 1524-4733
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jval.2017.08.2398

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to measure the knowledge about melanoma malignum and the UV-protection behaviour among university students. METHODS: We conducted a quantitative, cross-sectional study among students of five faculties at the University of Pecs by using non-random sampling (n=291).The self-edited questionnaire contained the following question groups: socio-demographic data, skin type, the number of previous sunburns, sunbathing habits, usage of solarium, usage of sunscreens, self-checking, knowledge about UV-protection and melanoma. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square test were used with 95% probability level (p<0.05). We used the SPSS statistics program. RESULTS: 61.9% of the students have had sunburns more than three times in their lives. Significantly more people belonging to the skin types MI use physical protection (p=0.007). 27.1% of the sample use sunscreens regularly (whilst sunbathing). Women (p<0.001), people who have never had sunburns in their lives (p=0.045), students of the Medical School (p=0.016) use sunscreens with a sun protection factor 16 or higher. 90.4% of the students do not know the risks of skin cancer. 38.1% of the sample know in which cases they need to visit a doctor because of a birthmark, primarily women (p=0.004), medical students (p=0.002), and students at third-fourth grades (p=0.010).They referred to commercials as their main sources of information (76.3%). CONCLUSIONS: Physical and chemical sun protection among university students is not adequate to the desired extent. Students' knowledge is insufficient especially of the ones studying at lower grades and at non-medical faculties. Evoking the pieces of information regularly at public education would be as important as forming the appropriate habits within the educational frameworks.