Evaluation of skin cancer knowledge level and sun protection behavior

Objectives: In this study, it was aimed to determine the relationship between socio-demographic characteristics, skin characteristics, eye color and hair color conditions, skin burn and skin cancer expressions and the level of skin cancer knowledge and sun protection behaviors of patients over 18 years of age who applied to the outpatient clinics of Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, accepted to participate in the study and gave consent. Methods: Our research, which was designed as descriptive and cross-sectional, was prepared with face-to-face surveys and online survey interviews. Two scales were used in the study, namely "Skin Cancer and Sun Knowledge Scale" and "Sun Protection Behavior Scale". Independent t-test analysis for dual-stage groups and analysis of variance (ANOVA) test was used for comparison of three-stage groups according to sun protection attitude and skin cancer and sun knowledge scale scores. Sidak pairwise comparison test was applied to determine the different groups. In the study, correlation analysis was conducted to determine the existence of a relationship between the participants' sun protection attitude and skin cancer and sun knowledge scale scores. P values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant in the study. Analyzes were made with the SPSS 22.0 package program. Findings: 400 people aged 18 and over were included in the study. The mean age of the participants was 37.34±15.38, 73.5% female, 60.8% married, 85.8% university graduate, 81% active in an income generating job, 31.2% have chronic diseases. 5.5% of the participants were very light-skinned and 30% had light-colored eyes; 24% had freckles, 79% had moles, 53.3% had a history of skin burn at least once, and 2.8% had a family history of skin cancer. 17% of the participants stated that they were exposed to the sun for more than 2 hours a day, and 90.3% of them stated that the sun causes skin cancer. Conclusion: In our study, it was observed that there was not enough awareness among the participants on skin cancer knowledge level and sun protection behavior, considering skin cancer risk factors and socio-demographic characteristics. There are few studies in the literature on skin cancer knowledge level and/or sun protection behavior with validated scales. In our country, studies conducted in this way in primary care are limited in number. Studies can be increased and developed to increase the level of knowledge and awareness of primary care physicians and/or their patients. Keywords: Skin, Skin cancer, Sun, Sun Protection