Evaluation of the photoprotection/photoexposure relation in academics of the Medicine graduation course at University of Planalto Catarinense – UNIPLAC

Abstract

Brazil is a country of wide territorial extension and is located in a predominantly tropical geographic location, with high rates of solar radiation throughout the year. Ultraviolet radiation, present in sunlight, is responsible for causing human skin damage, such as dyschromia, irregularities in the epidermis, skin aging, immunosuppression, DNA changes and malignancies. The young population has been increasing its representativeness in the national age pyramid and, due to its frequent and unprotected exposure to solar radiation, is at high risk to its damages. Thus, it is necessary to clarify to the youth, among which are the university’s students of health and medicine area, about this matter. This work analyzed life’s habits of the students regarding daily photoexposure and photoprotection based on the application of a questionnaire divided into two parts: the first one (questions 1 to 6), related to the socioeconomic profile of the interviewee and the second one (questions 7 to 13), regarding photoprotection and photoexposure of them. This research was approved by the number CAAE 67659317.5.0000.5368, of the CEP (Committee of Ethics in Research with Animals and Human Beings) 5368 of UNIPLAC. Academics of all the series of the course constituted the analyzed population, leading to 94 questionnaires answered out of 100. The rate of losses and refusals was 6%. Participants were older than 18 years, regularly enrolled in the year 2017 and in agreement with the FICT (Free and Informed Consent Term). Data collection and analysis were carried out between April and November 2017. The presence of erroneous habits regarding photoprotection and exposure to solar radiation was detected in the sample studied. It has also been found that the observed population is more susceptible to the development of future varieties of skin cancer.