Behaviors, Attitudes, and Knowledge Related to Sun Exposure Among Medical Students at the Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

Abstract

IntroductionThe incidence of skin cancer, for which the main risk factor is exposure to ultraviolet radiation, has risen worldwide. Sunburn is one of the simplest ways to assess sun exposure habits. To date, few studies have evaluated sun exposure in university students. ObjectivesTo determine behaviors, attitudes, and knowledge related to sun exposure and sun protection measures among medical students at the Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria; and to assess their relation to sunburn frequency. Material and MethodsThe voluntary participants in this cross-sectional survey were first-, third- and sixth-year university students enrolled during the 2016–2017 academic year. The students responded to a validated questionnaire about their habits, attitudes, and knowledge in relation to sun exposure. Respondents were grouped according to the number of sunburns they had experienced during the previous summer. ResultsA total of 286 students responded. The students demonstrated a high level of knowledge, but the percentage who experienced a sunburn was high. Multivariate analysis showed independent correlations between experiencing a sunburn and age, male sex, academic year of enrollment at the time of the survey, phototype, and negative attitudes toward the use of sun protection measures. ConclusionsOur medical students’ level of knowledge about sun exposure and sun protection is high and scarcely varies with time spent at the university. However, their knowledge is not reflected in their behavior and attitudes or in the frequency of sunburns.