Evaluation of the students’ knowledge about sunbed and solar radiation

• Authors: Krajewska-Kułak, E , Kułak, W , Van Damme-Ostapowicz, K , Łukaszuk, C , Lewko, J , Lankau, A , Kowalewska, B , Kowalczuk, K , Rozwadowska, E

Abstracts

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Introduction: In Poland, the incidence of malignant melanoma increases each year. Purpose: To assess the students’ knowledge about sunbed use and side effect of solar radiation. Materials and methods: The study was carried out among 577 students of the Medical University of Białystok based on a ‘sunbed survey’. Results: Of the 577 students, 390 (67.6%) had used a sunbed. Tanning 273 (70%) and preparation for sunny holidays 201 (51.6%) were the main reasons for sunbed use. Almost 61% of respondents were against the sunbed use by children or youths. SPF abbreviation was known by 64.4% of students. Most respondents 73.9% used the UVR-protection cosmetics in summer usually (66.9%). They avoided sun tanning between Noon - 15 o’clock (43.1%). Tanorexia as “an addiction to tanning” was defined by 27.4% of the respondents. The main sources of knowledge on sunbeds and side-effects of solar radiation were: magazines (34.6%) the Internet (29.5%) and TV (28.1%). Conclusions: The students’ knowledge about sunbed use and side-effect of solar radiation was varied. The majority of respondents knew that tanning to be a health risk, and they were against sunbeds could be used by children and youths. Most the surveyed did not know tanorexia term

Keywords

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sunbed; solar radiation; students

• Publisher: Uniwersytet Medyczny w Białymstoku
• Journal: Progress in Health Sciences
• Year: 2012
• Volume: 2
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 28-32

Contributors

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Krajewska-Kułak, E

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Kułak, W

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Van Damme-Ostapowicz, K

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Łukaszuk, C

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Lewko, J

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Lankau, A

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Kowalewska, B

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Kowalczuk, K

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Rozwadowska, E