16B.3
KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND BEHAVIOR OF DOCTORS AND NURSES IN RELATION TO THE ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
Ágnes Drahos, National Research Institute for Radiobiology and Radiohygiene, Budapest, Hungary; and Z. Oreg, E. Sedianszky, and L. Molnar
INTRODUCTION: Environmental changes cause genetic changes and those can cause diseases of the biological systems. The stratospheric ozone depletion found in both hemispheres is responsible for the increased incidence of ultraviolet (UV) radiation induced diseases. These are skin cancer, lip cancer, photoaging of skin and eye, blindness caused by cataract and immunological disorders. Our aim was to examine knowledge, attitude and behavior of medical doctors and nurses related to the sun and artificial UV sources because they have to have high knowledge level to help their patients. It is important also that a doctor must have appropriate habits, as they are personal examples for the other people. METHODS: The study was conducted among medical doctors with various specialty pediatrists, family doctors, dermatologists and nurses. A six-page questionnaire was developed to assess subjects' baseline knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors linked to demographic data including risk factors, type and time of occupational, freetime and holiday outdoor activities, behaviors, exposure and tanning, sporting activities, protective methods (shave, clothing, sunglasses, etc). Two pages of the questionnaires consisted of questions about attitudes linked to the sun, sunbathing, knowledge about ozone hole and increasing UVR, importance of early ages of life, risk of skin type and UVR induced diseases. We asked about the knowledge of artificial UV sources and devices and whether the doctors use protection against them in their workplace and at home as well. Knowledge and attitude were scored by answers about the sun and sunbathing, another by the knowledge of the ozone hole and its cause, and another one by knowledge and attitude for solarium. Summarized scores characterized overall exposure and overall knowledge. RESULTS: Physician's overall knowledge and knowledge about the ozone depletion were significantly higher than the other subject's, moreover in relation to highly educated other people but it was not in case of questions about the sun there were not different from other highly educated people. Their knowledge was adequate about UV and skin cancer but it was incomplete in relation with cataract and eye diseases. Medical doctors get high income and they have the possibility to travel abroad to the high mountains in winter and to the tropics as well and they can get higher exposure and they sunburned more times. Another dangerous factor that who have got a house with garden and spend their all weekends outside can get more exposure. This is more characteristic for the single and young doctors. Sunburning frequency and protective habits are not different from the habits of the whole population except for staying inside, as significantly more doctors answered that they protect themselves by this method.
Session 16B, Radiation and Magnetism Impacts on Human Physiology
Friday, 1 November 2002, 3:00 PM-4:30 PM
Previous paper Next paper