OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to measure the knowledge about melanoma malignum and the UV-protection behaviour among university students.

METHODS: We conducted a quantitative, cross-sectional study among students of five faculties at the University of Pécs by using non-random sampling (n=291). The self-edited questionnaire contained the following question groups: socio-demographic data, skin type, the number of previous sunburns, sunbathing habits, usage of solarium, usage of sunscreens, self-checking, knowledge about UV-protection and melanoma. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square test were used with 95% probability level (p<0.05). We used the SPSS statistics program.

RESULTS: 61.9% of the students have had sunburns more than three times in their lives. Significantly more people belonging to the skin types I-II use physical protection (p=0.007). 27.1% of the sample use sunscreens regularly (whilst sunbathing). Women (p<0.001), people who have never had sunburns in their lives (p=0.045), students of the Medical School (p=0.016) use sunscreens with a sun protection factor 16 or higher. 90.4% of the students do not know the risks of skin cancer. 38.1% of the sample know in which cases they need to visit a doctor because of a birthmark, primarily women (p=0.004), medical students (p=0.002), and students at third-fourth grades (p=0.010). They referred to commercials as their main sources of information (76.3%).

CONCLUSIONS: Physical and chemical sun protection among university students is not adequate to the desired extent. Students’ knowledge is insufficient especially of the ones studying at lower grades and at non-medical faculties. Evoking the pieces of information regularly at public education would be as important as forming the appropriate habits within the educational frameworks.