High School Students' Knowledge and Attitudes on Tanning and Sun Exposure Before and After Educational Presentations

Rising rates of skin cancer are a significant medical concern with a nearly 300 percent increase in new melanoma cases since the 1970s. There is a prominent lag time between UV radiation carcinogen exposure primarily in adolescence and pathology presentation primarily in the elderly. Teenagers spend the most time in the sun while paying the least attention to sun protective measures. A potential intervention method is primary prevention in the high school population.

A local high school was visited by medical student facilitators. Eligible participants of the IRB approved study were students in freshman physical education classes attending class in-person. Participants were given a prepresentation survey to assess behaviors, knowledge, and attitudes surrounding sun exposure and tanning. A 15-minute educational PowerPoint presentation was given. A post-presentation survey, identical to the pre-presentation survey, was given immediately after.

Overall, 181 freshmen (75.4 percent) participated. Knowledge about sun exposure, UV radiation, and skin cancer was higher post-presentation. Additionally, students reported positive attitude changes regarding protecting oneself from UV radiation, perceived risks/benefits of tanning/sun exposure, and perceptions of their future likelihood/concern of developing skin cancer.

Our study revealed brief educational presentations can increase knowledge and change attitudes in freshman high school students regarding UV radiation associated with tanning and sun exposure. Given the current rising rates of skin cancer, easy interventions such as the one demonstrated in this study should be part of a likely multi-factorial public health response. Future steps include additional analysis of changes to participants' behavior.