Evaluation of the awareness level of patients referred to Sari dermatologic clinics about sunscreen usage in the summer and autumn of 2004

Sunscreens are used for prevention of skin damage caused by the sun. Since various products are available, people should be encouraged to find the most appropriate one for their skin. We performed this study to detect the awareness level regarding appropriate sunscreen usage in patients referred to Sari dermatology clinics in 2004. This cross-sectional study was done in the autumn and summer of 2004 in Sari dermatology clinics. The study sample size was 400 participants. The measuring device was a questionnaire consisted of questions about sun light and sunscreen usage and demographic data. Most participants had moderate [35.4%] [correct answers to 50-70% of questions] and good [35.5%] [correct answers to 70-100%] awareness level, 26.4% had weak [correct answers to 25-50%] and 1.7% had unacceptable [correct answers to less than 25%] awareness about correct method of application of sunscreens. In this study the awareness level among females was significantly higher than males. There was a significant correlation between education level and awareness level [P<0.001], but no correlation between marital status, age and job and the awareness level was found. The awareness level in females was moderate and good. The awareness level in males was less than females, which shows their less attention to skin care. The weak and unacceptable level of awareness was considerable indicating the need for social educational interventions

study of recall during general anesthesia

In the present study, hundred patients undergoing elective surgical operations were studied to investigate the frequency of awareness and ability to recall associated with light general anaesthesia using Nitrous Oxide, Oxygen and relaxant technique. All the patients were pre-medicated with Inj. Morphine, Promethazine and Atropine intramuscular 45-60 min. before induction of anaesthesia. Only four patients reported awareness during surgery and could recall the conversations and incidence, which occurred during anaesthesia. No patient complained of any pain during surgery and all the patients were alert postoperatively. No patient had any dreams during operation and none of the patients was restless after recovery from anaesthesia. It was concluded that advantage of Nitrous Oxide, Oxygen and relaxant technique to provide adequate anaesthesia and muscle relaxation for surgery and also to ensure alertness with minimum cardio-respiratory disturbances at the end of operation can be made use of in patients with acute or chronic metabolic, respiratory and cardiovascular diseases undergoing emergency or elective surgical operations

Study of awareness during noninhalational anaesthesia.

Forty-five adult patients underwent a noninhalational anaesthetic method for investigation of awareness during surgery and recall of events associated with surgery in postoperative period. All the patients were divided into two groups. The first group of patients were male and had upper abdominal operations. The second group were female and had lower abdominal operations. No significant difference was found between these two groups either in requirements of depth of anaesthesia or in the evidence of per-operative awakefulness. Eighty percent patients of both the groups showed various signs of peroperative awakefulness but did not recall any events associated with surgery in the postoperative period. There was no report of dream either.