Vitamin D knowledge and sun exposure practices among Sri Lankan healthcare undergraduates

Although overexposure to ultraviolet radiation may lead to skin cancer, inadequate exposure results in vitamin D deficiency (VDD). We explored vitamin D-related knowledge and sun exposure practices among Sri Lankan healthcare undergraduates. The sampling frame consisted of medical and allied health...

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Published in:PloS one 2022-12, Vol.17 (12), p.e0279480-e0279480
Main Authors: Liyanage, Guwani, Jayathunga, Sanjana, Amarasekara, Thamara
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alfacalcidol
Auroral kilometric radiation
Avoidance
Avoidance behavior
Behavior
Biology and life sciences
Body mass index
Calcifediol
Calciferol
College students
Colleges & universities
Coronaviruses
COVID-19
Evaluation
Exposure
Female
Gender
Health aspects
Health behavior
Health care
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Humans
Knowledge
Likert scale
Medical laboratories
Medical students
Medicine and Health Sciences
Nursing
Nutrient deficiency
Outdoor activities
Overweight
People and Places
Pharmacy
Physical sciences
Protective clothing
Questionnaires
Regression analysis
Skin cancer
Skin diseases
Sri Lanka - epidemiology
Sun
Sunlight
Surveys and Questionnaires
Ultraviolet radiation
Ultraviolet Rays
Variables
Vitamin D
Vitamin D Deficiency - epidemiology
Vitamin D Deficiency - prevention & control
Vitamin deficiency
Vitamins
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creator Liyanage, Guwani
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Amarasekara, Thamara
description Although overexposure to ultraviolet radiation may lead to skin cancer, inadequate exposure results in vitamin D deficiency (VDD). We explored vitamin D-related knowledge and sun exposure practices among Sri Lankan healthcare undergraduates. The sampling frame consisted of medical and allied health undergraduates in a single centre. A newly developed, pre-piloted, self-administered questionnaire collected data on vitamin D knowledge, sun avoidance behaviour and outdoor time. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis examined the factors related to outdoor time. A total of 482 were included in the analysis. The mean (SD) vitamin D knowledge score (0-100% scale) was 31.3% (18%). Only 17.8% scored ≥50% for knowledge. At least one sun avoidance measure was used by 59.3% of the undergraduates. A lower knowledge score was observed with a higher number of sun-avoidance behaviour (mean difference 0.84, p = 0.03). The majority (66%) spent outdoors
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We explored vitamin D-related knowledge and sun exposure practices among Sri Lankan healthcare undergraduates. The sampling frame consisted of medical and allied health undergraduates in a single centre. A newly developed, pre-piloted, self-administered questionnaire collected data on vitamin D knowledge, sun avoidance behaviour and outdoor time. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis examined the factors related to outdoor time. A total of 482 were included in the analysis. The mean (SD) vitamin D knowledge score (0-100% scale) was 31.3% (18%). Only 17.8% scored ≥50% for knowledge. At least one sun avoidance measure was used by 59.3% of the undergraduates. A lower knowledge score was observed with a higher number of sun-avoidance behaviour (mean difference 0.84, p = 0.03). The majority (66%) spent outdoors &lt;30 minutes per day between 9 am-3 pm. The odds of having low outdoor time were 1.6 higher for the female sex (OR:1.61, 95%CI:1.039, 2.492, p&lt;0.001) and studying in the final year (OR:1.63, 95%CI:1.020, 2.602, p = 0.04). Medical students had a higher likelihood of low outdoor time (OR:0.55, 95%CI: 0.361, 0.835, p = 0.005). The healthcare undergraduates had low vitamin D knowledge and outdoor time while having increased sun avoidance. Gender, course of study, and academic year appeared to affect outdoor time. Support and guidance should improve knowledge and sun exposure habits that suit academic work and lifestyle in this population. Also, universities can actively promote positive sun exposure by organizing outdoor events.</abstract><cop>United States</cop><pub>Public Library of Science</pub><pmid>36574411</pmid><doi>10.1371/journal.pone.0279480</doi><tpages>e0279480</tpages><orcidid>https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9813-3295</orcidid><oa>free_for_read</oa></addata></record>
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subjects Alfacalcidol
Auroral kilometric radiation
Avoidance
Avoidance behavior
Behavior
Biology and life sciences
Body mass index
Calcifediol
Calciferol
College students
Colleges & universities
Coronaviruses
COVID-19
Evaluation
Exposure
Female
Gender
Health aspects
Health behavior
Health care
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Humans
Knowledge
Likert scale
Medical laboratories
Medical students
Medicine and Health Sciences
Nursing
Nutrient deficiency
Outdoor activities
Overweight
People and Places
Pharmacy
Physical sciences
Protective clothing
Questionnaires
Regression analysis
Skin cancer
Skin diseases
Sri Lanka - epidemiology
Sun
Sunlight
Surveys and Questionnaires
Ultraviolet radiation
Ultraviolet Rays
Variables
Vitamin D
Vitamin D Deficiency - epidemiology
Vitamin D Deficiency - prevention & control
Vitamin deficiency
Vitamins
title Vitamin D knowledge and sun exposure practices among Sri Lankan healthcare undergraduates
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