[Evaluation of the understanding of sun risk among 241 adolescents]

We investigated adolescent's knowledge of the consequences of sun exposure in order to determine what preventive measures would be effective.

A questionnaire was given to 241 adolescents (111 girls and 130 boys) aged 13 to 15 years whose background included all social occupational categories. The questionnaire included 21 open response items. We also interviewed 100 adolescents 3 months after an information session with a 1-hour slide presentation.

Eighty-five percent of the girls and 62 p. 100 of the boys said they exposed themselves to sun regularly. For 50 p. 100 of the adolescents, sun exposure occurred between 12 noon and 4 p.m. Less than 9 p. 100 knew that this period corresponds to maximal sunlight intensity and that maximal photoprotection is necessary. Only 47 p. 100 of the girls and 25 p. 100 of the boys regularly used protective skin lotions. Twenty-five percent of the girls used a lotion adapted to their phototype and 8 p. 100 of the boys. Twenty percent of the adolescents questioned were aware that applications should be repeated every 2 hours or after bathing. The cost of skin lotions was never cited as a limiting factor for their use. More than 90 p. 100 of the adolescents gave correct responses at the second test.

Our study demonstrated that the risk of sun exposure is largely unrecognized by adolescents and that they have very incomplete information concerning protective measures. An adapted information program would be useful for this risk population.