Maligni melanom : poznavanje bolezni, dejavnikov tveganja in odnos do njih v mladi odrasli populaciji v Sloveniji
Malignant melanoma : awareness of malignant melanoma, risk factors and related behavior towards them among adolescents in Slovenia

slovenian

2018

volume 22, issue 1

adolescent population   malignant melanoma   risk factors

Onkološki inštitut Ljubljana
(Obvezni izvod spletne publikacije)

Malignant melanoma in Slovenia continues to increase rapidly in incidence over the last decades. Knowledge and risk factors amongst the population is still questionable and poorly investigated. Exposure to ultraviolet radiation is the leading risk factor for melanoma development, therefore physical protection and use of sunscreens with sun protection factors is crucial. The study aimed to investigate awareness of melanoma, risk factors and related behavior towards them among students of four faculties of University of Ljubljana: Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Pharmacy and Faculty of Mathematics and Physics and to compare the answers between medical students and students of the other three faculties. The study was cross-sectional and survey-based. Students answered an anonymous questionnaire, which was sent to them through a website link. Answers obtained by 66.3% medical students and 33.7% students of other three faculties showed that medical students have statistically significant better knowledge about melanoma, (p=0.0001). It has also been found that there was statistical difference in frequency of protecting themselves from the sun (p=0.0001) and in used sun protection factor (p=0.015). Medical students with fair skin types more frequently used some means of protection from ultraviolet radiation, the measured difference was statistically significant (p=0.001). Medical students significantly better recognize malignant melanoma as the most threatening type of skin cancer. They also protect themselves from the sun more often and use higher sun protection factors. Slovenian adolescent population has high knowledge about harmful effects of exposure to ultraviolet radiation, but responds poorly to it.

10.10.2018