Attitudes and Practices Regarding Nose Piercing: Results of a Questionnaire Survey and Review of the Literature

穿鼻環態度與行為的研究：問卷分析及文獻回顧

10.29784/DS.200912.0002

Cemal Cingi；Murat Songu；Can Cemal Cingi；Hamdi Cakli；Onder Ihvan

Nose piercing

中華皮膚科醫學雜誌

27卷4期（2009 / 12 / 01）

210 - 217

英文

Background: Body piercing confined to the ears, mouth, and nose has been a common practice in almost every society around the world as far back as can be traced. As the popularity of piercing increasing, there is a soaring urgency of understanding the subsequent complications. Objective: A survey was designed to analyze the attitudes and practices of a group of volunteers wearing nose piercing. The questionnaire aimed to establish where and how the individuals had their piercing and what kind of complications they had when they got pierced, if any. Also evaluated are the psychosocial consequences of piercing and the reason behind the body jewelry. Methods: A 15-question survey was offered on a voluntary and anonymous basis to individuals wearing nose jewels at various public places in Eskisehir and Izmir, Turkey, over a span of 4 months period. Questionnaire data were analyzed using the SPSS 15.0. Independent variables included various health complications, location of the piercing and the instrument by which the piercing is performed. Results: A total of 74 female volunteers responded to the questionnaire. There were 87% had the procedure performed in an unregulated shop while 65% had it done by non-professional personnel. In 85%, the procedure was executed with a sterile injection/needle or a piercing gun, assuming both were sterilized instruments. Nearly 70% noted at least one symptom of local infection. A 30% observed bleeding. No correlation was found between various complications and the location of the piercing or the instrument by which the piercing is performed (p＜0.05). Over 90% were clearly happy with their piercing. Adornment is the number one reason (in 38%) of having nose piercing. Conclusion: Results showed that body piercing, which was common among adolescents, may pose a significant risk to one's health. Studies with larger sample size and among different populations with various cultural backgrounds are needed to delineate the rate of health complications we have observed. Exploration of psychological and sociological consequences of body piercing through long-term follow-up would be desired.