The assessment of the awareness of senior students about the effects of sunlight on the skin and necessity and methods of sun protection

Nearly ninety percent (90%) of skin cancers occur in sun exposed areas. In this study the awareness of senior students of Mashhad University (Ferdowsi) about the effects of sunlight on the skin plus necessity and methods of sun protection is evaluated. In this descriptive study in 2004 at Mashhad University (Ferdowsi), 802 senior students of 9 majors enrolled. This study was approved by the local committee of Medical Ethics. The standard questionnaires including 24 questions distributed among students. The students divided into groups according to their score in the 24 awareness questions: weak (score ≤ 12); moderate (score 13-17); and good, (score 18-24). Data analyzed by SPSS software variance analysis, T-test and Chi-square test. The students groups were weak, with a frequency of 15. 6%; moderate with frequency of 39. 4%; and good, with a frequency of 45%. The average female and male scores in the 24 awareness questions were 18. 31±3. 32 and 14. 90±3. 93, respectively. The difference was statistically significant (p=0. 002). There were significant differences between two sexes in the awareness of: "sunlight usefulness", "harmfulness", "effect on skin aging", "cause and increase the skin nevi", "erythema", "tanning", "carcinogenicity", "osteoporosis", "different sunlight intensity in different hours of the day", "protection of the window glass", "the necessity of sun protection" and " the effect of cap and clothes", "the sunscreen necessity in any season", "sunscreen use just in special patients", and "repeating its use during the day". Educated Peoples׳ knowledge, about the necessity of protection against harmful and corrosive effects of sunlight is not enough. It necessitates public education to protect against sunlight complications.