| Background:UV (Ultraviolet, UV) is a part of the radiation from the sun, the wavelength of ultraviolet radiation is from200nm to400nm of the electromagnetic spectrum. UV is located on the high energy region of the sunlight that is not visible. UV can be divided into three categories that are ultraviolet C (UVC,200-280nm), ultraviolet B (UVB,280-320nm) and long-wave ultraviolet light A (UVA,320-400nm). UV can cause sunburn, skin photoaging, skin immune suppression, skin pigmentation and skin cancer and other skin damage. The IARC noted that the results from animals and humans studies have shown that ultraviolet radiation is human carcinogen. The study found that people in childhood and adolescence exposed excessive ultraviolet radiation had increased incidence of skin cancer when they grown up. On the other hand, the strengthening of UV protection can reduce skin cancer risk. Developed countries attach great importance to the sun protection education in youth. UV protection education and relevant studies have not received enough attention in our country. We chose a medical university and a military academy to carry out a survey about the sunscreen knowledge and sunscreen usage in college students.Objective:To investigate the sun awareness and the use of sun care products among cadets and students of a medical university, to further explore differences between these two groups and provide some intervention measures in the future.Methods:A total number of1871students in freshman cadets and800students (grade one to grade three) of a medical university were random selected and checked by questionnaires, which are designed to test the awareness of sun protection knowledge and the use of sunscreen. Descriptive frequencies, Chi-square test and unconditional Logistic analysis were used to analyze data with SPSS13.0software.Results:759medical students were accepted, including429girls and243students who came from the city. We found25.56%of the students had sunburns, there is a significant difference between boys and girls(χ2=14.15,P<0.01).693students think that ultraviolet is harmful for us, there is a significant difference between boys and girls(χ2=14.15,P<0.01).77.07%of the students did not know what SPF and PA mean, there is a significant difference between students from the city and students from rural areas(χ2=32.68,P<0.01).269students used sunscreen as a sun-protection measure, there is a significant difference between boys and girls(χ2=41.69,P<0.01) and there is also a significant difference between students from the city and students from rural areas(χ2=12.33,P<0.01); The use of sunscreen can be influenced by gender of medical students, living expenses, nature of the skin and sunburn situation of medical students.We found78.8%(1183/1501) and81.7%(1226/1501) of the cadets did not know that the UV is divided into three parts and the meaning of the PA and SPF, respectively. Only9.4%(141/1501) and13.6%(204/1501) knew that sunscreen should be anti-UVA, UVB and they should take protective measures, respectively.32.7%(490/1501) have been taken protective measures, and did a professional skin examination only50cases. Sun protection attitudes and whether to take protective measures, whether to use sunscreen (lotion) are related (χ2=63.490, P<0.001;χ2=13.254,P=0.004). Sun protection attitudes can promote the use of taking protective measures and sunscreen (lotion)(OR:0.230,95%CI:0.405-0.611; OR:0.484,95%:0.412-0.922).62.9%cadets will take the initiative to understand the knowledge about sun protection after questionnaire. We combined the medical students and cadets’survey data and coducted reanalysis. It included759medical students (35.11%), cadets of1403(64.89%);1733boys (80.16%) and429girls (19.84%).26.49%of the boys have the experience of sunburn, sunburn experienced girls31.24%. Sunburn situation between the male and female difference was statistically significant (X2=3.90, P<0.05).92.65%of the students knew harmful ultraviolet radiation on the human body. A small part of the students (18.69%) knew the correct classification of UV. Medical students and cadets in the understanding of the correct classification of UV difference was statistically significant (X2=20.15, P<0.05).80.90%of the students do not know the meaning of the sun protection factor (SPF and PA). The difference between medical students and cadets in SPF understanding was statistically significant (X2=22.37, P<0.05).98.28%students understood the way of protection from ultraviolet radiation. The sunscreen usage between medical students and cadets was not statistically significant (%2=333, P>0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis found that sunscreen use was associated with gender, skin, and attitudes toward sunburn.Conclusion:The levels of the sun protection knowledge of cadets and medical students were limited; the sunscreen usage of the students was very low. The university should strengthen the education on sun protection knowledge. |
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