Changes in patients’ habits regarding exposure to the sun and photoprotection after basal cell carcinoma diagnosis

Introduction: Skin cancer is the most common type of neoplasia in humans, with ultraviolet radiation being considered the main cause. Basal cell carcinoma is the most frequent cutaneous neoplasia, and photoprotection is seen as the most effective measure in its prevention. Nonetheless, there is still some resistance to the use of sunscreens among the general population. There is also a lack of reports in the literature on whether such resistance differs in patients with basal cell carcinoma. Objectives: To evaluate whether there is change in habits regarding exposure to the sun and use of sunscreen after diagnosis of basal cell carcinoma in patients treated at the Dermatology Outpatient Clinic of Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (RS), Brazil. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out with 120 patients diagnosed and treated for basal cell carcinoma, who responded to a questionnaire regarding their sun exposure habits and use of photoprotection methods before and after diagnosis. Results: Of the 120 patients interviewed, 73.3% reported changes in their habits regarding exposure to the sun and use of sunscreen after receiving a diagnosis of basal cell carcinoma. The main reasons alleged by those who denied having changed their behavior towards sun exposure (26.7%), were the lack of fear of new tumors, as well as the high cost of sunscreens. Conclusions: A diagnosis of basal cell carcinoma motivates most patients to improve their use of preventive measures regarding protection from the sun. Nonetheless, about a third of the studied population still resisted such measures, the main reason cited being the high cost of sunscreens. Therefore, awareness campaigns about the importance of using photoprotection methods to prevent skin cancer must be implemented, and the development of programs aimed at making sunscreens available to the general population – especially to high-risk patients – must be sought.

Keywords: SKIN NEOPLASMS, CARCINOMA, BASAL CELL, HEALTH EDUCATION