ABSTRACT
Background: The Government of India by National Health Policy 2017 has set the target of relative reduction in prevalence of current tobacco use by 15% and 30% by 2020 and 2025 respectively. The Union health ministry had notified to mandatory display new health warnings to be covering 85% of the principal display area on all tobacco products (1 April 2016).Methods: This was an observational descriptive study with cross sectional in design carried out at Baghbazar slum in Kolkata with objective to study the smoking pattern, knowledge about health warning symbols (HWS) on tobacco products among the study population and to assess their motivation to quit and influence of HWS on their motivation. A total 66 smokers were interviewed using predesigned and pre tested questionnaire and analysis done using SPSS version 1.Results: About 83.3% study subjects were presently smoking and they were smoking daily, about 10 cigarette and bidi was smoked daily (median) and median duration without smoking was 1 month. About 63.6% study subjects were highly motivated to quit smoking. Health warning was definitely motivating them to quit smoking (p=0.01) but it was not resulting in actual quitting smoking (p=1.000). The main reason for motivation for quitting smoking was self-health related factor (84.6%).Conclusions: Health warning on cigarette packets increased the awareness about ill effects of smoking and motivated the smokers to quit smoking but not compelling them to quit smoking. Mostly those who were motivated to quit smoking were actually thinking about quitting due to other reasons.
ABSTRACT
Background: Use of sunscreens on the face is becoming popular, and patients with melasma are prescribed sunscreen for use on the face. Results of a few Western studies on the effect of sunscreen use on serum vitamin D concentration are not applicable to Indian conditions. Aims: To examine the effect of use of a high sun protection factor (SPF 50+, PA++++) sunscreen on face in patients with melasma on serum concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D. Methods: Forty-five Indian patients (Fitzpatrick skin types III and IV) with melasma were advised to use a sunscreen with SPF 50 + for 3 months, 43 (33 female, 10 male; age 32.9 ± 8 years) completed the study. Patients staying outdoor for <4 hours applied sunscreen once daily after bath. Patients staying outdoors for >4 hours reapplied sunscreen 4 hours after first application. Patients were provided a container to measure the amount of sunscreen for use, which was approximately equal to recommended thickness. Compliance was tested by weighing the used tubes and tubes in use during monthly visits. Serum concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D was tested before and after the study period. Results: Amount of sunscreen advised (100.5 ± 29.2 ml) and the actual amount used (96.6 ± 27.9 ml) were similar (P = 0.53, t-test). The difference between serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D at the baseline (19.20 ± 9.06 ng/ml) and at 3 months (18.91 ± 8.39 ng/ml) was not significant (P = 0.87, paired t-test, 95% confidence interval of difference −3.33 to 3.92). No correlation was found between the amount of sunscreen used and the percentage change in serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration at 3 months (rho = 0.099, P = 0.528, Spearman's rank correlation). Limitations: Longer duration of application and a larger sample size may detect minor differences in vitamin D concentration. Conclusion: Using a high SPF sunscreen on the face, along with physical photoprotection advice, in patients with melasma for 3 months does not influence serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration in Indian conditions.