Open AccessThe Risks of Everyday Life: An investigation of professional advice advocating therapeutic sun exposure
Author(s) -
Harrison Simone,
Hutton Lesley,
Nowak Madeleine
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.946
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1753-6405
pISSN - 1326-0200
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-842x.2002.tb00901.x
Subject(s) - medicine , rash , jaundice , sun exposure , family medicine , sunlight , health professionals , breastfeeding , pediatrics , health care , dermatology , surgery , physics , astronomy , economics , economic growth
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 and implications: 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.