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Attitudes and perceptions regarding skin cancer and sun protection behaviour in an Irish population
1Department of Dermatology, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, Ireland. bradjones@ausdoctors.net
Background:
Although people seem to be well educated on the harmful effects of the sun, they continue to intentionally expose themselves without adequate protection.
Aims:
To ascertain baseline knowledge regarding skin cancer and review the sun protection behaviours in an Irish population and the effect of doctor-based education on these behaviours.
Methods:
Two hundred participants were recruited for a questionnaire-based study on their perceptions regarding skin cancer and their sun protection behaviour. They were divided into two groups, with one group receiving doctor-based education following the initial survey, and a follow-up questionnaire was carried out within 3 months.
Results:
Ninety per cent of participants knew that sun exposure was the major risk factor for skin cancer, and 95% knew that sun beds were not a safe way to tan. Despite this, < 20% used regular sunscreen, and 30% had used or were currently using sun beds in order to tan.
Conclusion:
Our study indicated that although the participants' knowledge of skin cancer and risk of sun exposure is high, their sun-protective attitudes were not influenced by education in the clinical setting.
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