1.Knowledge, attitude, practice and perception on sunscreen and skin cancer among doctors and pharmacists
Qin Jian Low ; Kuo Zhau Teo ; Tzyy Huei Lim ; Seng Wee Cheo ; Wen Yee Evelyn Yap
The Medical Journal of Malaysia 2021;76(2):212-217
Introduction: Excessive ultraviolet light (UV) can cause
premature skin aging and potentially skin cancer. Currently
there is a lack of awareness among health care
professionals and the public on sun protection. The
objectives of this study were to determine knowledge on
sunscreen and skin cancer among health care
professionals, to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, practice
and perception of doctors and pharmacists toward the
usage of sunscreen as protection against UV radiation.
Materials And Methods: This is a cross-sectional study
conducted among doctors and pharmacists in Hospital
Sultanah Nora Ismail, Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia.
Questionnaires were used in this study.
Results: A total of 384 participants completed the
questionnaires. The participants consisted of 323 doctors
(84.1%) and 61 pharmacists (15.9%). The age group of the
participants ranged between 25 till 55 years old. Ninety
doctors (27.9%) and thirty-one pharmacists (51.0%) reported
used sunscreen daily (p<0.001). This finding showed that
there was a deficit in the practice of sun protection.
Pharmacists scored a higher knowledge score of median 12
(IQR=3.0) while the doctors scored 11 (IQR=2.0). This study
showed a significant association between ethnicity and skin
cancer knowledge (p<0.05).
Conclusion: This study demonstrated a lack of knowledge of
sunscreen and skin cancer prevention among health care
practitioners. This finding supports better medical
education program on this topic.