An investigation of professional advice advocating therapeutic sun exposure

To determine the prevalence of inappropriate professional advice advocating therapeutic sun exposure in infancy and the post-partum period.

Self-administered postal questionnaires were completed by doctors (n=130; 71% response) and nurses (n=285; 58.6% response) responsible for the care of post-parturient women in eight hospitals in metropolitan and regional Queensland (1999/2000).

Both groups reported several risky beliefs about the therapeutic benefits of sun exposure including using sunlight to treat: cracked nipples (41.1% nurses, 46.2% doctors); neonatal jaundice (49.5%, 34.9%); nappy rash (23.3%, 19.5%); and acne (12.3%, 20.2%). Approximately 10% of nurses and doctors recommended sunlight to treat sore/cracked nipples from breastfeeding, while 42% recommended sun exposure to treat neonatal jaundice. Relatively few doctors and nurses who recommended therapeutic sun exposure stipulated sunning through a window. Subtropical residence was a significant predictor of recommending sunlight to treat cracked nipples (p=0.002) and nappy rash (p=0.0005) among nursing staff. Midwives were more likely to recommend sunlight for neonatal jaundice than other nurses (p=0.004). Obstetricians (p=0.046), older doctors (p=0.049) and those who qualified earlier (p=0.031) were more likely to recommend sunlight to treat nappy rash. Paediatricians and neonatologists were less likely to recommend sunlight to treat neonatal jaundice than obstetricians and other doctors (p=0.009).

An education program is needed to change the practices of health professionals who recommend therapeutic sun exposure and should coincide with a health promotion campaign aimed at reducing the prevalence of related risky beliefs among parents.