The Relationship Between the Level of Knowledge Regarding the Importance of Sunscreen Use for Skin Health and Compliance with Sunscreen Use Among Preclinical Students of the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Islam Al-Azhar

Abstract

Sunblock shields the skin from harmful Ultraviolet (UV) rays. These rays, emitted by the sun, pose various health risks, particularly to the skin. UV exposure can lead to premature aging, melasma, melanoma, and other skin ailments. Therefore, applying sunscreen is vital in safeguarding the skin and preventing UV-induced diseases. Correct application of sunscreen is crucial to ensure its effectiveness. This research aims to establish the correlation between the level of knowledge regarding the significance of sunscreen for skin health and compliance to its use among preclinical students at the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Islam Al-Azhar. The study employed a cross-sectional design and utilized stratified random sampling. The sample size comprised 124 respondents. Data analysis involved the Spearman Rank correlation test, with a significance threshold of (p 0.05). Analysis results revealed that 81 respondents (65.3%) possessed a good level of knowledge, 32 respondents (25.8%) had a sufficient level, and 11 respondents (8.9%) had a low level of knowledge. Regarding compliance, 91 respondents (73.4%) adhered to the criteria, while 33 respondents (26.6%) did not. Significantly, a strong association exists between knowledge about sunscreen's importance for skin health and compliance with its use among preclinical students at the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Islam Al-Azhar (p-value of 0.00, p-value <0.05), with a coefficient of 0.511.