Sun-related behaviour and melanoma awareness among Swedish university students

The relationship between knowledge, attitude and sun-related behaviour amon g Swedish students was examined in the present study. A total of 296 of 305 questionnaires, distributed among university students (medical school and economy programme) were analysed (157 men, 139 women, mean age 24 years). T he percentage of students sunbathing with the intention of getting a tan wa s 75%. Thirteen per cent reported having experienced at least one painful s unburn every year and 93% stated at least one burn during the last ten year s, The majority of the students had used a sun bed, 12% more than ten times during the last year. Subjects with high frequency of sun bed use also sco red high on sunbathing and sunburns. Significantly more women (70%) than me n (51%) used sunscreen. The overall knowledge of melanoma was high. No diff erence in knowledge was found between the high- and low-exposure group. Med ical students scored higher on knowledge than economy students, but did not differ in exposure score, Our findings reveal an excessive sun exposure am ong university students. A high level of knowledge of risk does not lead to a sun-protective behaviour, Future preventative campaigns targeting young people must focus on strategies to change attitudes towards tanning as bein g healthy and attractive. (C) 1999 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.