Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41194096›Full record

ArticleBMC public health2025

Sun protection behaviors and knowledge of skin cancer and sun exposure among Emirati undergraduate students.

Huda Anshasi, Hajer Almazrouei, Nojoud Rashed, Reem Salem, Mareyah Suhail, Amal Abdulla

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Huda AnshasiNursing, Faculty of Health Science, Higher Colleges of Technology, Fujairah, P.O. Box: 1626, United Arab Emirates. hanshasi@hct.ac.ae.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4853-9825
Hajer AlmazroueiNursing, Faculty of Health Science, Higher Colleges of Technology, Fujairah, P.O. Box: 1626, United Arab Emirates.
Nojoud RashedNursing, Faculty of Health Science, Higher Colleges of Technology, Fujairah, P.O. Box: 1626, United Arab Emirates.
Reem SalemNursing, Faculty of Health Science, Higher Colleges of Technology, Fujairah, P.O. Box: 1626, United Arab Emirates.
Mareyah SuhailNursing, Faculty of Health Science, Higher Colleges of Technology, Fujairah, P.O. Box: 1626, United Arab Emirates.
Amal AbdullaNursing, Faculty of Health Science, Higher Colleges of Technology, Fujairah, P.O. Box: 1626, United Arab Emirates.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeThe aim of this study is to assess the level of knowledge about skin cancer and sun exposure among Emirati undergraduate students and evaluate the sun protection behaviors practiced by these students.

methodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among 455 undergraduate students from 17 campuses of one of the largest higher education institutions in the UAE. Data were collected using a structured survey comprising sociodemographic characteristics and two validated scales: the Skin Cancer and Sun Knowledge Scale (SCSKS) and the Sun Protection Behavior Scale (SPBS).

resultsParticipants demonstrated a moderate level of knowledge, with a mean SCSKS score of 13.01. The mean SPBS score was 25.60 out of 40, with notable variation across specific behaviors. The most frequently reported practice was sunscreen use, with 41.3% of participants indicating they “always” used it. In contrast, hat use was among the least practiced behaviors, with 100% of participants reporting they "never" wore a wide-brimmed hat and 41.3% stating they "never" wore a hat at all. Female students reported higher levels of sunscreen use and sun avoidance, while male students were more likely to wear hats. No significant correlation was found between knowledge and sun avoidance behaviors.

conclusionThis study highlights a gap between knowledge and behavior in relation to sun protection. Despite a moderate level of awareness about skin cancer and the risks of sun exposure, students do not consistently engage in protective behaviors. These findings highlight the need for targeted educational interventions that not only raise awareness but also encourage sustained behavioral change. Public health initiatives should adopt culturally relevant, gender-sensitive strategies to encourage the consistent use of multiple sun protection methods.

Indexed as

Health Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeSkin NeoplasmsStudentsSunlightSunscreening AgentsAdolescentAdultCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleProtective ClothingSurveys and QuestionnairesUnited Arab EmiratesUniversitiesYoung AdultSunscreening AgentsSkin cancerSun exposureSun protection behaviorsUndergraduate students

Identifiers

PMID41194096
PMCPMC12590657

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.