[ 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