Sun protection among university students in Poland:
a survey of awareness and attitudes

Magdalena Łyko; Magdalena Kruzel; Aleksander Kuś; Joanna Maj; Jacek Szepietowski; Alina Jankowska-Konsur

doi:10.5114/ada.2020.96709

eISSN: 2299-0046
ISSN: 1642-395X

Advances in Dermatology and Allergology/Postępy Dermatologii i Alergologii

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abstract:

Original paper

Sun protection among university students in Poland: a survey of awareness and attitudes

Magdalena Łyko

¹

,

Magdalena Kruzel

¹

,

Aleksander Kuś

¹

,

Joanna Maj

²

,

Jacek C. Szepietowski

²

,

Alina Jankowska-Konsur

²

Student Research Group of Experimental Dermatology, Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland

Adv Dermatol Allergol 2021; XXXVIII (6): 961–966

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5114/ada.2020.96709

Online publish date: 2021/10/26

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Introduction
The aim of the study was to evaluate students’ awareness and attitudes related to skin protection against UVR and to check the hypothesis whether medical students differ from other faculty students in terms of health-promoting behaviour in photoprotection.

Material and methods
Internet-based survey containing 24 questions about students’ knowledge and attitudes associated with sun exposure and photoprotection was carried out between March and May 2019. Two hundred and forty-three questionnaires were subject to statistical analysis.

Results
Out of 243, 149 (60.9%) respondents studied medicine and 95 (39.1%) were students of other faculties. 235 (96.7%) declared using sunscreen. 46 (18.9%) students applied it all year round and 116 (47.7%) only in the summer. Medical students chose more willingly products with SPF > 30 (p = 0.002). A hundred and fifty-nine (65.4%) students used sunscreen once when outdoors and 76 (31.3%) applied products more than once. Additional sun protective methods included wearing sunglasses (82.7%), hats or caps (62.1%) and avoiding sunlight around noon (46.5%). Students of the medical faculty avoided sun exposure statistically more frequently (p = 0.042) than students of other faculties. 28.4% had dermoscopy performed in the past. Medical students underwent dermoscopy examination statistically more frequently (p = 0.001) than students of other faculties.

Conclusions
Medical students, probably due to their education, show increased pro-health attitudes associated with photoprotection. This indicates that they may be involved in creation and promotion of education activities to general public.

keywords:

Sun protection among university students in Poland: a survey of awareness and attitudes

Magdalena Łyko 1 , Magdalena Kruzel 1 , Aleksander Kuś 1 , Joanna Maj 2 , Jacek C. Szepietowski 2 , Alina Jankowska-Konsur 2

sun protection, prevention, students, medical student

Magdalena Łyko

¹

,

Magdalena Kruzel

¹

,

Aleksander Kuś

¹

,

Joanna Maj

²

,

Jacek C. Szepietowski

²

,

Alina Jankowska-Konsur

²