Introduction: Photoprotection is a set of preventive activities that minimize the deleterious effects of sun exposure, these health behaviors may be related to attitudes and knowledge. Objective: To identify these associations in undergraduate medical students of the School of Medicine and Health Sciences at the University of Rosario, who are responsible for forwarding education and example of behavior in their personal and professional context. Methodology: Cross sectional study. We implemented a voluntary survey by institutional e-mail and physically among students of 1-8 semester registered in the second semester of 2009, n = 122 students, most under 20 years old and female gender; study analyzed factors: biological - demographic, informant, attitudes, knowledge, people and performance model, expressed in frequency, analyzed evidence and strength of association with a confidence interval of 95%. Results: Factors associated with photoprotection: belong 1-4 semester (p = 0.008), being = 19 years (p = 0.028), recognition as a result alterations in the eyes and vision (p = 0.043) and in the immune system (p = 0.021), use of protective clothing by the couple (p = 0.019), the stay in the shade by a friend (p = 0.055), knowledge of the possibility of burn independent climate (p = 0.001) and advised of the possibility of burn without feeling the hot rays of the sun (p = 0.049). Conclusions: Reinforce preventive behavior, promoting positive role models related to youth, increase knowledge and primary education on health from the perspective of General Medicine; would improve the photoprotection.
