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

AIM: 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.