Our goal was to identify shortcomings in UV protection and determine where education is most needed. Players at competitive junior tennis tournaments accessed the anonymous survey on their smartphones through a QR code.
The data show that many junior tennis players spend several hours a day relatively unprotected in the sun and could significantly improve sunscreen application frequency and body coverage, as well as the use of protective hats, clothing, and eyewear.
The vast majority of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers are caused by sun exposure, and sunburns in childhood and adolescence are crucial risk factors. Yet little was known about sun-protective behavior in junior athletes exposed to high levels of ultraviolet radiation.