Assessing Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors Regarding Sun Safety in Female Collegiate Athletes

Across the United States, there is a rising incidence of melanoma in the adolescent and young adult population. Collegiate athletes are at an increased risk of skin cancer because of prolonged, frequent exposure to ultraviolet radiation. The aim of this quantitative study was to evaluate an improvement in knowledge, attitudes, and sun safety behaviors after an educational intervention for female collegiate athletes (N = 81). Data collection occurred in three phases: a pretest was issued before the face-to-face educational intervention and a posttest was issued immediately after the intervention. A final posttest was distributed 3 months after the intervention. After an educational intervention, the collegiate athletes showed an increase in knowledge and an improvement in attitudes and behaviors. The difference in knowledge between the pretest and the posttest was statistically significant (p < .000). The increase in knowledge at the final posttest was also statistically significant (p < .000). After an educational intervention, female collegiate athletes experienced an improvement in knowledge, attitudes, and sun safety behaviors. Establishing routine sun safety education may potentially reduce the risk of melanoma in this vulnerable population.