An investigation of professional advice advocating therapeutic sun exposure.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of inappropriate professional advice advocating therapeutic sun exposure in infancy and the post-partum period.


METHODS
Self-administered postal questionnaires were completed by doctors (n=130; 71% response) and nurses (n=285; 58.6% response) responsible for the care of post-parturient women in eight hospitals in metropolitan and regional Queensland (1999/2000).


RESULTS
Both groups reported several risky beliefs about the therapeutic benefits of sun exposure including using sunlight to treat: cracked nipples (41.1% nurses, 46.2% doctors); neonatal jaundice (49.5%, 34.9%); nappy rash (23.3%, 19.5%); and acne (12.3%, 20.2%). Approximately 10% of nurses and doctors recommended sunlight to treat sore/cracked nipples from breastfeeding, while 42% recommended sun exposure to treat neonatal jaundice. Relatively few doctors and nurses who recommended therapeutic sun exposure stipulated sunning through a window. Subtropical residence was a significant predictor of recommending sunlight to treat cracked nipples (p=0.002) and nappy rash (p=0.0005) among nursing staff. Midwives were more likely to recommend sunlight for neonatal jaundice than other nurses (p=0.004). Obstetricians (p=0.046), older doctors (p=0.049) and those who qualified earlier (p=0.031) were more likely to recommend sunlight to treat nappy rash. Paediatricians and neonatologists were less likely to recommend sunlight to treat neonatal jaundice than obstetricians and other doctors (p=0.009).


CONCLUSIONS
An education program is needed to change the practices of health professionals who recommend therapeutic sun exposure and should coincide with a health promotion campaign aimed at reducing the prevalence of related risky beliefs among parents.
Harrison
Simone
S
Skin Cancer Research Group, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, James Cook University of North Queensland, Townsville. Simone.Harrison@jcu.edu.au
Hutton
Lesley
L
Nowak
Madeleine
M
D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000009:adverse effects; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003963:Diaper Rash / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006370:Heliotherapy; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007224:Infant Care / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007567:Jaundice, Neonatal / Q000628:therapy; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education / Q000592:standards; D009558:Nipples / Q000473:pathology; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education / Q000592:standards; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000592:standards*; D011793:Queensland; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires