prefer different activities in the sun. This should be taken into
consideration when planning campaigns directed to these two
populations.
The main source of information about UVR effects, especially
among public-school students, is the media, which demonstrates the
importance of campaigns to motivate schools and health profes-
sionals to routinely provide guidance about photoprotection.
Physicians should have a more active role, taking advantage of
office visits to discuss simple and efficient practices such as regular
skin self-examination and the use of sun-protective measures. It
also stresses the need to discuss and study the type of information
that is being provided by all means of communication in Brazil.
Media and entertainment resources should be incorporated in cam-
paigns directed at young people in an attempt to show them the
importance of sun-protective measures and change their positive
perceptions about being tanned.
Acknowledgements—This study was made possible by grants from Con-
selho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (National
Council of Technologic and Scientific Development) and from Fundo de
Incentivo a Pesquisa e Eventos, Hospital de Clı´nicas de Porto Alegre
(Events and Research Incentive Fund, Hospital de Clı´nicas de Porto Ale-
gre). This paper is based on the Master’s thesis, Sun exposure and sun
protection habits among high-school adolescents in Porto Alegre, Brazil,
presented by Cristiane Benvenuto-Andrade to the Graduate Program in
Medical Sciences: Pediatrics, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do
Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
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