Avaliação da conscientização sobre o uso de fotoprotetores na comunidade assistida pela Farmácia Escola da Universidade Federal da Paraíba - Campus I

Abstract

Skin cancer is currently the most common type of cancer worldwide, representing more than 30% of diagnosed neoplasms. The main risk factor for the development of this disease is prolonged exposure to sunlight. Brazil has high daily rates of solar incidence, which makes skin care relevant and the practice of photoprotection measures relevant and fundamental. Based on this, this study aimed to evaluate the awareness and the profile of use of sunscreens among users of the Pharmacy School of the Federal University of Paraíba, campus I. It consists of a descriptive, transversal and quantitative study, with a sample of 107 users, of according to the spontaneous demand of the place. The data collection instrument used was a semi-structured questionnaire accompanied by the Free and Informed Consent Term, approved by the research ethics committee of the CCS / UFPB. Most of the participating individuals were women (61.68%), 18 to 25 years old (38.32%), brown (51.4%), with higher education in progress (37.38%). Most of the sample (59.81%) stated that they are exposed to the sun for 1 to 2 hours a day, usually between 8 am and 10 am (63.55%). Predominantly (39.73%), individuals apply sunscreen only on their faces and most of them use sunscreen with SPF 30 (39.73%). Only 35.51% of the participants said they used other means of photoprotection, such as caps, sunglasses and long clothes, for example. The majority denied the use of suntans (84.11%), skin lesions (89.72%) and family history of skin cancer (83.18%). This study revealed worrying data about the use of sunscreens and other means of photoprotection. Therefore, there was a need to promote health education actions for the population in order to raise awareness about the prevention of possible occurrences of skin lesions such as cancers and sunburns.