Evaluation of the knowledge of sun exposure and sun protective measures in healthcare workers
Introduction: Solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation has a great impact on human life. The sun has always played an important role in Asian culture, so much so, that it is often prayed to as a God. Prolonged sun exposure can cause extensive and chronic harmful effects. Healthcare personnel is supposed to...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Occupational Health and Safety Society of Nepal
2023-03-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Occupational Safety and Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://nepjol.info/index.php/IJOSH/article/view/43305 |
| _version_ | 1797869349353029632 |
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| author | Eliz Aryal Prashanna Raj Shrestha Sujan Gautam |
| author_facet | Eliz Aryal Prashanna Raj Shrestha Sujan Gautam |
| author_sort | Eliz Aryal |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Introduction: Solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation has a great impact on human life. The sun has always played an important role in Asian culture, so much so, that it is often prayed to as a God. Prolonged sun exposure can cause extensive and chronic harmful effects. Healthcare personnel is supposed to have good knowledge regarding sun protection as they play a key role in society disseminating knowledge to the general public. There are limited data regarding the knowledge of sun protection and sunscreen practice among health care workers.
Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out from June to October 2020 on healthcare workers (medical staff) in Kathmandu Medical College Teaching Hospital. A questionnaire was distributed to the target study population without disturbing or hampering the healthcare worker’s duty.
Results: Out of a total of 264 participants in the study, 84 (31.8%) were male and 180 (68.2%) were female. The knowledge of proper terminology for SPF (Sun Protection Factor) was noted in 196 (74.2%) and 57 (21.6%) agreed that the value of SPF was related to age. No significant difference was noted regarding knowledge about the time of sun exposure for Vitamin D synthesis. No significant differences were found in practices of sunscreen use for purposes of fairness, or prevention of tanning, wrinkle, mole, and skin cancer.
Conclusion: A higher level of education was associated with better knowledge and proper abiding practices regarding sunscreen use. As healthcare workers play a key role in distributing information in society, they should be targeted in education campaigns regarding sun exposure and sun protection measures; with these efforts focused more on nurses and medical officers.
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| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T00:10:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-937cbe16e1534b05bbcfd423dcc03a69 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2738-9707 2091-0878 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T00:10:07Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | Occupational Health and Safety Society of Nepal |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Occupational Safety and Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-937cbe16e1534b05bbcfd423dcc03a692023-03-16T09:57:32ZengOccupational Health and Safety Society of NepalInternational Journal of Occupational Safety and Health2738-97072091-08782023-03-0113210.3126/ijosh.v13i2.43305Evaluation of the knowledge of sun exposure and sun protective measures in healthcare workersEliz Aryal0Prashanna Raj Shrestha1Sujan Gautam2Department of Dermatology, Kathmandu Medical College, Kathmandu, NepalDepartment of Dermatology, Kathmandu Medical College, Kathmandu, NepalDepartment of Dermatology, Kathmandu Medical College, Kathmandu, Nepal Introduction: Solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation has a great impact on human life. The sun has always played an important role in Asian culture, so much so, that it is often prayed to as a God. Prolonged sun exposure can cause extensive and chronic harmful effects. Healthcare personnel is supposed to have good knowledge regarding sun protection as they play a key role in society disseminating knowledge to the general public. There are limited data regarding the knowledge of sun protection and sunscreen practice among health care workers. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out from June to October 2020 on healthcare workers (medical staff) in Kathmandu Medical College Teaching Hospital. A questionnaire was distributed to the target study population without disturbing or hampering the healthcare worker’s duty. Results: Out of a total of 264 participants in the study, 84 (31.8%) were male and 180 (68.2%) were female. The knowledge of proper terminology for SPF (Sun Protection Factor) was noted in 196 (74.2%) and 57 (21.6%) agreed that the value of SPF was related to age. No significant difference was noted regarding knowledge about the time of sun exposure for Vitamin D synthesis. No significant differences were found in practices of sunscreen use for purposes of fairness, or prevention of tanning, wrinkle, mole, and skin cancer. Conclusion: A higher level of education was associated with better knowledge and proper abiding practices regarding sunscreen use. As healthcare workers play a key role in distributing information in society, they should be targeted in education campaigns regarding sun exposure and sun protection measures; with these efforts focused more on nurses and medical officers. https://nepjol.info/index.php/IJOSH/article/view/43305Health personnelKnowledgeSunscreenUltraviolet |
| spellingShingle | Eliz Aryal Prashanna Raj Shrestha Sujan Gautam Evaluation of the knowledge of sun exposure and sun protective measures in healthcare workers International Journal of Occupational Safety and Health Health personnel Knowledge Sunscreen Ultraviolet |
| title | Evaluation of the knowledge of sun exposure and sun protective measures in healthcare workers |
| title_full | Evaluation of the knowledge of sun exposure and sun protective measures in healthcare workers |
| title_fullStr | Evaluation of the knowledge of sun exposure and sun protective measures in healthcare workers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluation of the knowledge of sun exposure and sun protective measures in healthcare workers |
| title_short | Evaluation of the knowledge of sun exposure and sun protective measures in healthcare workers |
| title_sort | evaluation of the knowledge of sun exposure and sun protective measures in healthcare workers |
| topic | Health personnel Knowledge Sunscreen Ultraviolet |
| url | https://nepjol.info/index.php/IJOSH/article/view/43305 |
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