Vol. 6, Issue 1, Part B (2024)

In India, with its year-round sunny climate, sun exposure is a significant concern.1 Ultraviolet (UV) radiation poses a significant risk to skin health, leading to conditions such as skin cancer, premature ageing, and sunburns, and their impact is on the rise globally. Thus, photoprotective measures like wearing protective clothing, seeking shade, using wide-brimmed hats, sunglasses, and applying effective sunscreens are crucial.2
Healthcare professionals are tasked with educating the public on preventive health measures. Nursing students, who serve as both learners and future educators, are expected to possess thorough knowledge about sun protection and practice healthy behaviours.3 A study on medical students found that 17.5% applied sunscreen consistently all summer, while 26.7% reported not using sunscreen at all.4 Thus, raising individual awareness is essential to lower skin cancer rates in society, mitigate the consequences of unprotected sun exposure, and encourage photo-protective measures and behaviours.
This questionnaire-based study focuses on understanding the sun-protective behaviour, attitudes, and knowledge among nursing students in India and explores whether the knowledge translates into practice and identifies factors that prevent them from adopting adequate photoprotective measures.