Assessment of Behaviors, Attitudes, and Awareness Regarding Skin Cancer Among Polish Medical and Non-medical Students: Comparative Analysis - Summary - MDSpire
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Assessment of Behaviors, Attitudes, and Awareness Regarding Skin Cancer Among Polish Medical and Non-medical Students: Comparative Analysis
To assess and contrast behaviors, perceptions, and awareness concerning skin cancer among Polish medical and non-medical students to identify deficiencies and inform educational initiatives.
Key Findings:
Medical students had higher knowledge scores (M = 6.23) compared to non-medical students (M = 4.23), p < .001.
Gender was a significant predictor of sunscreen compliance and knowledge scores.
When adjusting for gender, the field of study did not significantly influence sunscreen compliance or knowledge scores.
Women were more likely to apply sunscreen on sunny days (84.7% vs. 61.0%) and reported greater daily application (44.9% vs. 13.0%).
Knowledge scores positively correlated with sunscreen usage (rs = .24, p < .001).
Interpretation:
Differences in sun protection practices are primarily attributed to gender, with females showing higher adherence to protective strategies. The higher knowledge among medical students is linked to their greater female representation.
Limitations:
The study's cross-sectional design limits causal inferences.
The reliance on self-reported data may introduce bias.
Conclusion:
The findings underscore the need for targeted educational efforts to address knowledge-practice gaps in skin cancer prevention, particularly focusing on gender differences.
