Evaluation of the habits of exposure to the sun and guidance on photoprotective measures in transplanted young adults: a cross sectional study

INTRODUCTION: Skin cancer is the most frequent tumor in transplanted patients. Evaluating how transplanted young adults behave regarding the exposure to the sun is an important step in introducing prevention programs in this population.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the photoprotection habits of transplanted young patients and to determine whether the guidance on the use of sunscreen increases the use of photoprotection measures.
METHODS: Cross-sectional study. A questionnaire was applied at the post-transplant post-adolescents clinic.
RESULTS: Forty-nine patients were interviewed (mean age = 22.9 years, SD = 4.6 years). The rate of use of sunscreen was 40% among those who had not been instructed and 93.2% among those who had been instructed. There was a statistically significant association between having been instructed on the use of and using sunscreen (p = 0.01). Most patients reported having used sunscreen. Limitations of the study: the interviewees’ level of schooling was not evaluated.
CONCLUSIONS: Young transplanted patients who are instructed during the consultations to use sunscreen adhered more to the application of sunscreen than patients who had not been instructed. It is of utmost importance to educate transplanted young adults about skin cancer prevention whenever possible, preferably at each visit.

Keywords: Kidney transplantation; Organ transplantation; Skin neoplasms; Skin care; Sunscreening agents; Young adult