Investigation of the Research on Skin Cancer and Sun Protection in Turkey

Abstract

Skin cancer is drawing attention with its increasing incidence in the world and in Turkey. The most important factor in the etiology of skin cancer is ultraviolet rays. Reducing the exposure of people to ultraviolet radiation in sunlight by developing positive behaviors in sun protection is the most important part of reducing the burden of skin cancers to public health. Nurses play an important role in early diagnosis and prevention of skin cancer. This literature review was conducted to examine studies on skin cancer and sun protection and to be guiding for future studies. In the review, 31 studies were examined in January 2017 using PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, Willey Online Library, Turkish Medical Index, and Google Scholar Databases. The fulltext papers published over the last 10 years in Turkish or English was chosen for the review. The authors of the studies, year, place, sample, method used, data collection tools and important results were obtained for evaluation of the data. While 41.9% of the studies on skin cancer and sun protection were published in 2015 and later and their sample groups consist mostly of the student groups, university students were in the first place with seven studies. It was observed that more than half of the studies were conducted with descriptive method (17), four studies with quasi-experimental method, three studies with methodological, cross-sectional and descriptive-cross-sectional method, and one study with descriptive-correlational method. In these studies, information on related knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of various groups, screening results, applied interventions, results of interventions, and assessment and evaluation tools were determined. These results are thought to provide a basis for measurements and interventions performed to prevent skin cancer and reduce the sun exposure. Keywords: Skin neoplasms; sun protection factor; review