BACKGROUND: The prevalence of skin cancer is rising worldwide. It is important to know the level of understanding of the population in the city of Recife. OBJECTIVE: Faced with the lack of statistical data on the knowledge and prevention of negative effects of sun exposure and especially skin cancer, an epidemiological study was carried out on members attending the main gyms located in the city of Recife. The study aimed at assessing their knowledge about skin cancer and its prevention. METHOD: Five hundred questionnaires comprising 22 items were applied to obtain data on each individual, notably age, sex, family income, educational level and behavior regarding sun exposure. Karl Pearson's chi-square test was applied for the statistical analysis. The frequency of similar replies was grouped in graphs and tables that allowed a discussion and comparison of the results with the literature. RESULTS: Of the females in the sample, the majority were under 40 years of age. There were more whites than blacks and family income was over 10 times the Brazilian legal minimum wages. CONCLUSION: The majority knew about the risks and damage associated with sun exposure as well as the means to protect the skin, nevertheless, those interviewed exposed themselves to these risks, but adopted various protective measures.
skin aging; skin neoplasms
