Hajj Findings: Qualitative Research on Sun Protection

According to PLOS One, a qualitative post-Hajj interview study published on November 11, 2026, pilgrims and nurses recognized sun exposure as a problem but often understood it primarily as heat rather than as a separate UV-related health risk. The study identified five themes: physical and emotional effects, awareness gaps, cultural influences, barriers, and recommendations.

• According to the November 11, 2026 PLOS One study, researchers interviewed 29 people: 16 Saudi pilgrims and 13 registered nurses.
• According to the study methods, interviews took place through Zoom from June 20 to July 11, 2025, within approximately one month of the 2025 Hajj season.
• According to the study results, participants had limited knowledge of UPF-rated clothing, UV-protective umbrellas, and the UV Index, even when they understood that direct sun exposure could be harmful.
• According to the study findings, cost, product availability, language differences, cultural clothing norms, discomfort, and forgotten protective items reduced consistent sun-protection use.
• According to participant recommendations reported in the study, multilingual education before Hajj and wider access to affordable protective products should be central to future interventions.

According to the November 11, 2026 PLOS One study by Omar Qaladi and colleagues, the research used retrospective semi-structured interviews to explore awareness, attitudes, and behaviors related to UV protection during Hajj. The researchers interviewed 16 Saudi pilgrims and 13 registered nurses who had worked in hospitals in Makkah and Madinah.

According to the study methods, the research team analyzed transcripts thematically using Braun and Clarke’s six-phase approach. Three researchers independently coded an initial 20% sample, developed a shared codebook, and used consensus discussions to resolve coding differences.

According to the study, Arabic interviews were translated into English, and an independent bilingual researcher audited a random 20% sample of translated transcripts against the original Arabic material. Participants were also invited to review their transcripts, which supported member checking.

The study’s five themes show why qualitative data matters for public health design: participants described heat exhaustion and emotional strain, limited UV knowledge, cultural and religious interpretations of hardship, practical barriers, and specific recommendations for improving protection.

One pilgrim told the researchers, "Everyone knows the sun is harmful, but I don’t think we understand how exactly." One nurse said, "Honestly, I have no knowledge about UV-protection products." These quotations show the difference between general awareness and actionable knowledge.

The November 11, 2026 PLOS One study suggests that effective Hajj sun-safety interventions must separate heat prevention from UV prevention. The study explains that hydration, rest, and cooling address heat-related illness, while sunscreen and UPF-rated clothing or umbrellas address UV exposure; shade can support both goals.

The study also shows that information alone may not be enough. Participants described language barriers, uncertainty about product effectiveness, cost concerns, physical discomfort, clothing constraints, and spiritual interpretations of hardship. Public health teams should therefore test whether messages are understandable, culturally appropriate, affordable, and easy to act on.

For UX researchers, the findings create a clear opportunity to analyze the journey from awareness to behavior. Interview coding can distinguish whether a participant lacks knowledge, rejects a recommendation, cannot access a product, finds the product uncomfortable, or forgets to use it. These are different problems that require different designs.

The study’s qualitative scope also sets boundaries on interpretation. The sample included Saudi pilgrims during one Hajj season, so the findings should not be treated as representative of all international pilgrims. The researchers also noted possible recall and social desirability bias because interviews occurred after Hajj.

The November 11, 2026 PLOS One study shows how interviews can uncover the difference between recognizing sun exposure as a problem and understanding the specific actions needed to reduce UV risk. The study’s 29 participants described knowledge gaps, cultural influences, communication problems, and practical barriers that quantitative measures alone might not explain.

AI-enabled qualitative research can help teams move faster from multilingual transcripts to transparent themes, segment comparisons, and intervention priorities. Researchers should use AI to support systematic analysis while retaining human oversight for cultural meaning, ethics, translation, and evidence quality.

Evidano gives public health, UX, and academic research teams a structured way to analyze interview transcripts and related documents. Try Evidano for free and turn qualitative evidence into clearer research decisions.