Evaluation of the students’ knowledge about sunbed and solar radiation

Introduction: In Poland, the incidence of malignant melanoma increases each year. Purpose: To assess the students’ knowledge about sunbed use and side effect of solar radiation. Materials and methods: The study was carried out among 577 students of the Medical University of Białystok based on a ‘sunbed survey’. Results: Of the 577 students, 390 (67.6%) had used a sunbed. Tanning 273 (70%) and preparation for sunny holidays 201 (51.6%) were the main reasons for sunbed use. Almost 61% of respondents were against the sunbed use by children or youths. SPF abbreviation was known by 64.4% of students. Most respondents 73.9% used the UVR-protection cosmetics in summer usually (66.9%). They avoided sun tanning between Noon - 15 o’clock (43.1%). Tanorexia as “an addiction to tanning” was defined by 27.4% of the respondents. The main sources of knowledge on sunbeds and side-effects of solar radiation were: magazines (34.6%) the Internet (29.5%) and TV (28.1%). Conclusions: The students’ knowledge about sunbed use and side-effect of solar radiation was varied. The majority of respondents knew that tanning to be a health risk, and they were against sunbeds could be used by children and youths. Most the surveyed did not know tanorexia term