Oral cancer awareness of undergraduate medical and dental students

Oral Cancer Knowledge and Screening Practices Among Dental Professionals in Yemen: a Web-Based Survey

BACKGROUND

Good knowledge and screening practices of dental professionals for oral cancer (OC) will inevitably improve its prognosis. The present study sought to evaluate OC knowledge and practices among dental professionals in Yemen.

METHODS

This study was conducted among Yemeni dentists. The used tool was a prevalidated online questionnaire composed of items on the knowledge, practices, and barriers of OC screening and early detection. The data were managed and analysed using SPSS Version 28.0.

RESULTS

A total of 506 dental professionals completed the questionnaire. The participants showed moderate levels of knowledge on risk factors and clinical signs of OC. While the majority reported tobacco (89.9%) as a potential risk factor, only 76.7% and 57.5% of the subjects reported a potential role for alcohol consumption and old age. Regarding clinical signs, the majority reported that OC can present as nonhealing ulcer (90.3%) or white/red patch (87.2%), yet only 73.7% reported that it can present as swelling/lump, and around 32% reported that teeth attrition is one of its clinical signs. Concerning practices, most of the participants reported asking their patients about their tobacco habits (84%), routinely examine patients' oral mucosa (81.4%), and refer suspicious lesions to specialists (91.3%). Only 44.9% reported feeling confident regarding their knowledge and training on OC. Specialists and those who attended educational courses on OC were more knowledgeable, more confident, and showed better practices than their counterparts. Inadequate knowledge/training, lack of time, and lack of financial compensation were the most reported barriers to OC screening and early detection.

CONCLUSION

The present study indicates marked gaps in the knowledge and screening practices of OC among Yemeni dentists. Therefore, conducting periodic continuing courses along with interventional trainings are urgently recommended to address these gaps.

Knowledge and Awareness of Medical and Dental Students About Oral Cancer Risk Factors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVE

This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to assess the knowledge and awareness of oral cancer risk factors among medical and dental students.

METHODS

This study followed the PRISMA guidelines and was registered in INPLASY (ID: 2024110035). Four databases were consulted (PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, and Web of Science) from February 20th, 2005, to May 10th, 2024. The study selection and data extraction process was performed independently by 2 investigators. The risk of bias was assessed using the JBI tool, which can be found at: https://jbi.global/critical-appraisal-tools. A third investigator was consulted in case of disagreement. Meta-analysis results were systematically illustrated in a forest plot and expressed as odds ratio with 95% confidence interval. The I2 statistic assessed heterogeneity between studies. Funnel plot and Egger regression analysis were used for bias analysis. A P value <.05 was considered significant. All statistical analyses were performed using the STATA V.15 software.

RESULTS

After the selection process, 41 studies met the eligibility criteria, comprising a total of 14,425 participants, 22% medical students and 78% dental students, primarily female (53%). The meta-analysis showed that 98% of students demonstrated relatively good knowledge about oral cancer risk factors. The most recognized risk factor was smoking (99%), followed by advanced age (68%), UV-rays exposure (64%), and alcoholism (57%). Knowledge of several other factors was comparatively lower, with less than 50% of students recognizing them. The studies indicated significant heterogeneity (I2 = 99.8%) and publication bias (P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that while medical and dental students have a strong understanding of key risk factors for oral cancer, there are gaps in knowledge regarding other important factors. Addressing these gaps through enhanced education and training is essential to improving early detection and prevention efforts.

Investigating Oral Cancer Awareness Among Medical and Dental Students: A Cross-Sectional Study in the South Canara Region of India

Oral cancer is responsible for increased mortality, especially in the Indian subcontinent. Habits like smoking and tobacco chewing are among the most common causes of oral cancer. Previously, these habits were seen mainly in the elderly; however, the trends have seemed to increase in the younger generation. Awareness regarding oral cancer is essential during the early years of a healthcare expert for effective diagnosis. This study aimed to investigate oral cancer awareness among medical and dental students. A cross-sectional study including 144 medical and 112 dental undergraduate students was designed. A validated 12-question questionnaire on oral cancer awareness was distributed to medical and dental undergraduate students. The collated data were analyzed statistically using tests of proportion. Dental students were more likely to examine oral mucosa routinely (χ 2 = 9.585, p=0.002) and observe oral lesions like proliferative growth (χ 2 = 71.763, p < 0.001), while medical students reported higher incidences of poor oral hygiene (χ 2 = 7.667, p=0.006) and tobacco usage (χ 2 = 6.337, p=0.012). Both groups expressed a need for more education on oral cancer, with dental students showing a stronger preference (χ 2 = 7.526, p=0.006). Referral to an oral surgeon was preferred among both groups. The dental students felt a lack of sufficient knowledge on oral cancer. It was observed that the knowledge and information regarding cancer-related symptoms was more among medical students. However, overall awareness regarding oral cancer was higher in dental students compared to medical students. It was concluded that medical students exhibited more knowledge about oral cancer causes, while dental students were more aware of its signs and symptoms. Educational interventions should be introduced early to reduce diagnostic delays and prevent cancer progression.

Oral and maxillofacial surgery and dental health education in undergraduate medicine: a systematic review

Undergraduates in medicine should receive a basic education to ensure understanding of dental concepts, including oral cancer, basic dental health advice, and oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS). This review aims to explore the exposure of OMFS and dental education in the UK medical undergraduate curriculum and follows PRISMA protocols. Four databases were used to search for literature: MEDLINE, EMBASE, SCOPUS, and Google Scholar. A three-tier reviewer panel was used to appropriately evaluate data. The Medical Education Research Quality Instrument (MERSQI) was used to assess research quality amongst the included literature. A total of 14 papers were included for review. Surveys assessing medical students' perceptions of OMFS education indicate a need for improvement of the speciality in undergraduate medicine. Mean exposure of graduating medical students to OMFS was 22% (95%CI 11 to 29%). Knowledge of relevant anatomy, physiology, and OMFS-related data was very poor across all surveys. Likewise, oral cancer teaching appears to have room for improvement, only 7% (95%CI 4.1 to 10.3%) of final year medical students can identify oral cancer and less than 20% felt confident in oral assessment and diagnosis. This appears to transfer over into postgraduate medicine where only a mean of 22% of general practitioners can correctly diagnose oral cancer. The results of this review indicate that OMFS and oral cancer are not well covered in the medical curriculum. Doctors require a basic understanding of the OMFS speciality for appropriate referrals and clinical management. Furthermore, the ability of doctors to correctly deal with oral medical problems should be improved to optimise patient outcomes.

Improving detection of oral lesions: Eye tracking insights from a randomized controlled trial comparing standardized to conventional approach

BACKGROUND

Early detection of oral cancer (OC) or its precursors is the most effective measure to improve outcome. The reasons for missing them on conventional oral examination (COE) or possible countermeasures are still unclear.

METHODS

In this randomized controlled trial, we investigated the effects of standardized oral examination (SOE) compared to COE. 49 dentists, specialists, and dental students wearing an eye tracker had to detect 10 simulated oral lesions drawn into a volunteer's oral cavity.

RESULTS

SOE had a higher detection rate at 85.4% sensitivity compared to 78.8% in the control (p = 0.017) due to higher completeness (p < 0.001). Detection rate correlated with examination duration (p = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

A standardized approach can improve systematics and thereby detection rates in oral examinations. It should take at least 5 min. Perceptual and cognitive errors and improper technique cause oral lesions to be missed. Its wide implementation could be an additional strategy to enhance early detection of OC.

Oral cancer: Current status and public health perspectives

Despite advances in surgical and oncological treatments, the incidence and five-year survival rates (~50 percent) of oral cancers (OC) have not improved over the last decades and remain a major public health problem. Seventy percent are still diagnosed at a late stage (T3 or T4), with an average delay in diagnosis of two to five months. As the cure and survival of patients are directly related to the development stage of the tumor at the time of diagnosis, the objective of this work was to analyze all the determinants related to oral cancer and to propose new clinical approaches for diagnosis and screening. A proposal for new models of screening, training, and concrete action to improve public awareness of the major global problem of OC is made. The strengths and weaknesses of OC screening studies need to be objectively understood to effectively guide and energize testing in primary care settings, with the prospect of using new and emerging technologies that can help improve the discriminatory accuracy of case detection. Most national organizations have not, to date, recommended population-based mass screening, due to a lack of sufficient scientific evidence of associated mortality reduction. Where health care resources are high, opportunistic individual screening is recommended, although the low diagnostic capacity of front-line clinicians is alarming.

How Much Do We Know about Oral Cancer?-An Online Survey

INTRODUCTION

Oral cancer (OC) is a disease with a high mortality rate due to its late recognition. Since the oral cavity is easily accessible for visual inspection, enabling early diagnosis, the education of healthcare workers about preventive oral examinations is critical. This research aimed to assess the level of participants' OC knowledge, as well as to raise awareness about this diagnosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The research was conducted as an online survey among students of dental medicine, students of medicine, doctors of dental medicine and doctors of medicine. The questionnaire was designed solely for the purpose of this study and consisted of 29 questions. The first part of the questionnaire consisted of general questions about the participants, whereas the questions in the second part addressed their knowledge and attitudes towards OC.

RESULTS

The surveyed population comprised of 140 dental students, 105 medical students, 159 doctors of dental medicine and 100 medical doctors. The level of knowledge about OC among the participants is not yet satisfactory. The group of dental medicine students scored highest, while medical doctors showed the weakest knowledge.

CONCLUSION

Additional education about OC for doctors of dental medicine and medical doctors is needed. This step will improve prevention and increase chances for early detection.

Oral Cancer Awareness of Tertiary Education Students and General Public in Singapore

OBJECTIVES

Oral cancer confers high morbidity and mortality rates. Late diagnosis of oral cancer is linked to a lack of awareness of its existence and known risk factors. The purpose of this survey was to examine the knowledge and awareness of oral cancer amongst different groups in Singapore.

METHODS

A self-administered questionnaire (including questions on awareness, risk factor knowledge, and health beliefs about oral cancer) was distributed to undergraduate students from the medical and dental schools and other faculties at the National University of Singapore, as well as the general public.

RESULTS

A total of 470 responses were analysed. Both medical and dental students were almost universally aware of the disease and correctly identified recognised risk factors for oral cancers. Dental students had a significantly higher level of knowledge of chewing betel quid as a risk factor than medical students (98% vs 74%; P < .0001), although 1 in 10 dental students did not identify alcohol as a risk factor. In contrast, undergraduate students from other faculties were the least aware of oral cancer (62%). Within the general public, knowledge of the risk factors of oral cancer aside from smoking was low, with only 41% aware of viruses as a possible aetiology. However, the younger population group, aged 18 to 34 years old, in general had better knowledge of the risk factors of oral cancer compared with older participants.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a general lack of awareness about oral cancer and its associated risk factors amongst certain cohorts of the Singapore population. There exists room for further targeted education.

Appropriateness of two-week wait head and neck cancer referrals to a district general hospital

Objectives The NHS advise urgent referral of patients with suspected head and neck cancers to secondary care to be seen via a two-week wait pathway. The objective of this review was to analyse the two-week wait head and neck cancer referrals to a district general hospital and to identify the prevalence of oral cancer.Materials and methods Patients referred via an urgent two-week wait cancer pathway during the period of 12 October 2020 to 19 January 2022 were identified. Data were extracted and analysed for referral source, patient sex, whether or not a biopsy was undertaken, and the number of patients with a final positive cancer diagnosis.Results Overall, 883 two-week wait referrals were received. Most referrals came from general medical practitioners (50%) followed by general dental practitioners (37%). A total of 379 patients (46%) underwent a biopsy, special investigations, or internal referral to another speciality. The overall prevalence of cancer was 6.2%. Most referrals received were for commonly occurring benign conditions.Conclusion Despite many two-week wait suspected cancer referrals, only a small percentage of patients go on to be diagnosed with head and neck cancer. These results highlight the number of avoidable referrals, which ultimately impact patient waiting lists and clinician time.

Appraisal of elementary knowledge and awareness of oral cancer among dental and medical undergraduates

Background

Currently, oral cancer in India ranks among the top three types of cancer affecting mainly the elderly population. However, recent years have witnessed a marked increase in the younger people less than 45 years of age being affected by oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Thus, its early detection and treatment are of utmost importance and this responsibility lies with the healthcare providers. Therefore, we planned this study to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices of oral cancer among undergraduate dental and medical students. The objective was to suggest strategies to improve awareness on oral cancer.

Methods

A pretested questionnaire comprising nineteen questions were distributed among 193 undergraduate dental and 218 undergraduate medical students of our university. Fundamental questions were included in the clinical examination, risk factors and need for information lectures on oral cancer. Chi-square and ANOVA tests were used to analyse the data.

Results

The response rate of the study was good with 91.7% (177/193) of the dental and 88% (191/218) of the medical undergraduates participating in the survey. Though dental students had sufficient knowledge regarding the prevention and detection of oral cancer, however, medical students were less aware of the investigative methods of oral cancer.

Conclusion

Though the mean knowledge of the dental students was good, they were not confident of diagnosing the early clinical symptoms of oral cancer. Practices on detection of oral cancer have to be reinforced among medical students so that they can contribute to its prevention.

Oral cancer knowledge, attitudes, and practices among senior dental students in Yemen: a multi-institution study

BACKGROUND

The "Knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP)" approach is crucial in health system. Appreciating the current KAP status will reveal the extent of the efficiency of applied health strategies, and subsequently help to determine the appropriate health policy to be employed for improving the health indicators of a given disease/condition, including Oral Cancer (OC). This large-scale cross-sectional study aimed to assess knowledge, attitude, and practice on OC among senior dental students in Yemen.

METHODS

A pre-validated online questionnaire was used for data collection. It consisted of a series of close-ended questions on knowledge, attitudes and practices related to OC. Yemeni dental students in clinical levels (4th and 5th years) from nine dental schools based in four major cities were invited to complete the survey. The SPSS Version 28.0 was used for data analysis. Differences by different grouping factors were assessed by Chi-squared and Mann Whitney-U tests, as appropriate.

RESULTS

A total of 927 students completed the questionnaire: a response rate of 43%. While the majority identified smoking (93.8%), and smokeless tobacco (92.1%) as potential risk factors of OC, only 76.2% recognized sun exposure as a risk factor for lip cancer and only 50% were aware of old age as a risk factor of OC. Regarding clinical signs of OC, 84.1% reported that OC can present as non-healing ulcer, but only two thirds of the participants recognized that OC can present as a white and/or red lesion. With respect to practices, although 92.1% reported asking their patients regarding oral habits, only 78% reported they regularly carry out a soft tissue examination. Only 54.5% of the participants considered themselves to be well-trained to provide smoking cessation advice, and 21% were confident regarding their knowledge on OC. The 5th year students showed significantly better knowledge and practices than the 4th year students did (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

The study suggests significant gaps in knowledge, attitudes, and practices of senior dental students in Yemen regarding OC. The findings also underscore the urgent need to improve OC teaching and training of undergraduate dental students, and to provide periodic well-structured continuing professional development activities for dental professionals.

Knowledge, Opinion, and Practices Towards Screening of Oral Cancer Among Homeopathy and Ayurveda Students in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India

INTRODUCTION

Oral cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world. Early recognition leads to higher cure rates and better quality of life. Homeopathy and Ayurveda can help improve the general well-being and vitality of patients without inducing any side effects.

AIM

To assess knowledge, opinion, and practices towards oral cancer among homeopathy and ayurvedic students.

OBJECTIVES

To find the correlation between knowledge and practices followed by homeopathy and ayurvedic students.

METHOD

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 157 homeopathy and 153 ayurvedic students in Indore city, Central India. The subjects were selected using a convenient sampling technique, and the data was collected using a pre-tested close-ended self-administered questionnaire with 24 questions. The data were analyzed by IBM Corp. Released 2011. IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 20.0. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp. using descriptive and analytical (Chi-square and independent sample t-tests) statistics. Correlation analysis was performed to assess the relation between knowledge and preventive practices score.

RESULTS

Homeopathy students showed a significantly higher mean knowledge (4.74+0.96) and practice score (4.82+1.54) as compared to ayurvedic students (knowledge score 4.49+1.11) (practice score 4.09+1.98). No significant differences were observed in the mean knowledge and practice scores of the homeopathy students. There was a statistically significant difference between the mean knowledge score and practice score of third-, fourth-, and fifth-year ayurvedic students at p-value <0.05. A positive (p-value <0.0001) correlation was observed between the knowledge and practice scores for ayurvedic students. As the year of professional studies increased, the overall practice of the students regarding oral cancer also increased, with fifth-year students showing significantly better practice (OR- 1, p-value = <0.05) than the other year students.  Conclusion: Homeopathy students showed better knowledge, whereas ayurvedic students showed better opinions and practices towards oral cancer.

Knowledge of Oral Cancer Risk Factors among International Medical and Dental Students at the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences: A Cross-Sectional Study

The aim of this study was to evaluate knowledge of oral cancer risk factors among international dental and medical students at the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LSMU). A cross-sectional study was conducted among international medical and dental students at the LSMU in 2018−2019. In total, 253 students participated, for a response rate of 76.2%. An anonymous self-administered English questionnaire, consisting of 18 items, covered background information (gender, faculty and academic study year), and statements about risk factors for oral cancer and attitudes towards the prevention and treatment of oral cancer. The fifteen statements had the following answer options: yes, no and I don’t know. The statistical data analysis was performed using SPSS version 22. Overall, a good, fair and poor knowledge of oral risk factors was reported by 15.02%, 56.92% and 28.06% of the participants, respectively. The mean score for knowledge of oral cancer risk factors was 10.01 (SD = 2.56), which was defined as fair knowledge. Cronbach’s alpha was found to be 0.78 (a good value). Bartlett’s sphericity test and the KMO index were adequate (χ2 = 677.563, p < 0.001; KMO = 0.788). This study demonstrates a lack of knowledge of oral cancer risk factors among international medical and dental students.

Dental Education for Prevention of Oral Cancer in Turkey: Needs for Changing the Curriculum

The aim of the present study is to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of dental students on oral cancer in Istanbul, Turkey. A self-administered questionnaire adapted from Tanriover et al. consisting of 48 questions was distributed to 311 students enrolled in the fourth and fifth grades of a dental faculty in Istanbul, Turkey. Questions were grouped under 5 main headings: socio-demographic features, knowledge on risk factors and diagnostic procedures, history taking regarding to alcohol and smoking status, opinions and behaviors of oral cancer, and distribution of dental students according to diagnostic practice of oral cancer. The frequencies and percentages were calculated with descriptive analysis. The differences in distributions were analyzed using the chi-squared test. The p value was set at 0.05 for statistical significance. The overall response rate was 98% (305/311). The majority of the students identified tobacco and alcohol as risk factors (82% and 75.1%, respectively), while older age and inadequate consumption of fruits and vegetables were less likely to be known (60.2% and 52.8%, respectively). Almost one-fifth of the students stated that they have never performed oral cancer examinations during their first or subsequent dental examinations of their patients. Female students thought that dentists were authorized to make oral cancer examinations with a higher frequency compared to males (65.8% and 34.2%, respectively; p = 0.006). On the other hand, female students reported that they did not receive adequate education regarding cessation of smoking with a higher frequency compared with males (69.2% female and 30.8% male respectively; p = 0.0001). As this present study revealed that future dentists had insufficient knowledge in some of the main concepts on oral cancer risk factors, and they lacked the confidence in performing oral examinations in their patients, it is concluded that there is a need for a more structured teaching program with greater emphasis on the early signs and risk factors of OC. Reorganization of the dental curriculum, and courses which further draw attention on the responsibility of the dental practitioner in the detection of oral cancers will be beneficial for the creation of awareness on this significant topic among future dental workforce. Understanding the knowledge and perception of dental students on oral cancers is not only limited to a specific country but it is a worldwide critical issue in which information should be exchanged.

Oral potentially malignant disorders - An assessment of knowledge and attitude to future education in undergraduate dental students

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and clinical experience of oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) in undergraduate dental students in six European countries (Croatia, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain and United Kingdom) and assess student's attitude and preference to future education on the topic. A secondary aim was to identify gaps in student's knowledge and clinical practice. The study was a part of the Erasmus+ project "Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders: Healthcare Professionals Training" (Grant No: 2020-1-UK01-KA202-078917).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

An online questionnaire was distributed to all final-year students in six partner universities. This consisted of four parts assessing: (1) knowledge on OPMDs, (2) clinical experience with this group of patients, (3) self-rated competence in the management of OPMDs and (4) preferences with regard to future education.

RESULTS

Two hundred and sixty final-year dental students from six partner universities responded to the questionnaire. Response rates varied from 12% to 92% between partner universities. Significant differences in clinical experience and knowledge were found between students. Students with more clinical exposure to OPMDs rated their knowledge and competence in the management of OPMDs higher than students with less clinical experience. The majority of students were interested in future education on OPMDs, preferably via short educational videos.

CONCLUSION

The majority of students have received theoretical knowledge of OPMDs during their undergraduate studies, however, not all had clinical exposure to this group of patients. Students were open to further education on OPMDs. Important deficiencies in knowledge were identified that need to be addressed and it is anticipated that the e-learning platform and e-book that are in development by partner institutions will help to improve overall knowledge of OPMDs.

Knowledge, Practice, and Awareness of Oral Cancer and HPV Infection among Dental Students and Residents: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background and Objectives: Dentists play a very important part in the early identification of oral cancer lesions. This aspect of dental practice depends on the knowledge acquired during the faculty years. The aim of this study was to assess dental students' and residents' levels of awareness in terms of oral cancer. Materials and Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted at the Faculty of Dental Medicine within the "Grigore T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Iasi, on a sample of 197 students in the fourth and the fifth years and first year residents in general dentistry. To assess their knowledge, a questionnaire was created containing 22 questions about the risk factors for oral cancer, with a focus on HPV infection. Results: Most participants correctly identified smoking, alcohol, and the HPV infection as risk factors and leukoplakia and erythroplasia as potentially malignant lesions. At the opposite site, aspects considered as unsatisfactory focused on the palpation of lymphatic nodules, a procedure largely carried out by 41.6% of the fourth year students, the counseling only of the patients at risk performed by 59.7% of residents, the lack of knowledge about the prevention of oral cancer through anti-HPV immunization found in 39.7% of the fifth year students. Other incorrect answers focused on other types of suspicious lesions, such as actinic cheilitis, as well as certain areas in the oral cavity subject to the frequent onset of oral cancer, such as buccal mucosa. Conclusions: Although the fifth year students and residents have better knowledge than the fourth year students, the gaps in terms of knowledge and practice encountered in all three categories of participants require a reevaluation of the academic curriculum and the focus on the building of the skills necessary for the correct screening of oral cancer.

Oral cancer knowledge and practice among medical students: A cross-sectional study during the Syrian crisis

Background

lack of medical practitioners' knowledge about oral cancer has contributed to delays in referral and treatment. Oral cancer is amenable to treatment when detected early, which leads to better prognosis and survival rates. In this study, we aimed to assess the knowledge of the Syrian medical students about the risk factors of oral cancer, oral cavity changes associated with oral cancer, and the relation between the relation with Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and oral cancer.

Methods

This is a cross-sectional study conducted at the Syrian Private University. Data were collected through self-administered questionnaires, which targeted social demographic information, general knowledge, risk factors, oral changes and HPV knowledge associated with oral cancer. Data was categorized and analyzed to assess and compare the levels of knowledge between clinical and preclinical students.

Results

301 out of 401 medical students responded to the questionnaires bringing the response rate to 75.25%. The study revealed adequate knowledge about oral cancer, general information, clinical features, risk factors and relation to HPV. Clinical students showed higher levels of awareness compared to pre-clinical students. No significance in knowledge was found between the genders.

Conclusion

The findings of the present study suggest that there is a need to reinforce the medical curriculum concerning oral cancer education, particularly in prevention and early detection to improve practices.

Perception and Attitude of Dental Students and Interns Regarding the Diagnosis and Management of Oral Mucosal Lesions and Salivary Glands Hypofunction

Background:

The perception and attitude of dental students/graduates regarding diagnosing/managing oral medicine cases are scarcely investigated.

Objective:

The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the level of confidence in diagnosing/managing cases of oral mucosal lesions and salivary glands hypofunction.

Methods:

A 29-items questionnaire descriptive survey was distributed among dental interns and sixth-year students in the city of Jeddah during March-April of 2020.

Results:

A total of 136 (81 interns and 55 sixth-year students) completed the questionnaire, of which 69.9% were from a government school, and 30.1% were from private schools. For oral mucosal lesions [i.e., aphthous/herpes simplex virus ulceration], the majority of government and private schools’ participants reported being confident in their ability to diagnose (88.4% and 87.8%, respectively) and provide treatment (63.2% and 56.1%, respectively). For oral candidiasis, the majority were confident in their ability to diagnose (government: 95.8%; private: 59.1%) and treat (government: 77.9%; private: 65.9%). The confidence in diagnosing lesions suspicious for dysplasia/premalignancy was high in 77.9% of government and 80.5% of private schools. Similar reporting was found regarding salivary hypofunctions (government: 93.7%; private: 90.2%). For the likeness to refer, the majority of participants were likely to refer to oral medicine, as the 1st choice, followed by oral surgery.

Conclusion:

Dental interns/sixth-year students seemed to have high levels of confidence in diagnosing/managing oral mucosal lesions and salivary hypofunctions. However, the partial participation and the subjectivity of reporting may have hindered capturing the full/precise picture.

Knowledge, opinions, and practices related to oral cancer prevention and oral mucosal examination among dentists in Moldova, Belarus and Armenia: a multi-country cross-sectional study

INTRODUCTION

Moldova, Belarus, and Armenia are post-Soviet countries with a high rate of heavy smokers and a relatively high age-standardized incidence of oral cancer. However, to our knowledge, there is lack of available information on dentists' knowledge on prevention of oral cancer in the countries in question. Accordingly, this study aimed to assess the knowledge, opinions, and practices related to oral cancer prevention and oral mucosal examination among dentists in Moldova, Belarus, and Armenia.

METHODS

This was a multi-country, cross-sectional study based on a self-administered questionnaire. A structured questionnaire was distributed to 3534 dentists (797 in Chisinau, Moldova, 1349 in Minsk, Belarus, and 1388 in Yerevan, Armenia). Dentists' knowledge about risk factors for oral cancer development and its clinical picture, current practices and opinions with regard to oral mucosal screening and oral cancer prevention, and their consistency to perform oral mucosal examination were assessed. A knowledge score ranging from 0 to 14 points was generated based on each dentist's answer to the questionnaire.

RESULTS

A total of 1316 dentists responded, achieving an overall response rate of 37.2% (34.5% in Moldova; 52.3% in Belarus; 24.2% in Armenia). Most dentists in the three countries correctly identified tobacco (83.8-98.2%) and prior oral cancer lesions (84.0-96.3%) as risk factors for oral cancer. Most dentists correctly identified leukoplakia as a lesion with malignant potential (68.7% in Moldova; 88.5% in Belarus; 69.9% in Armenia), while erythroplakia was identified by much fewer in all three countries. Less than 52% of dentists identified the tongue, rim of tongue, and floor of mouth as the most common sites for oral cancer. The mean knowledge score for all countries combined was 7.5 ± 2.7. The most commonly reported barriers to perform oral mucosal examination were lack of training, knowledge, and experience.

CONCLUSIONS

This study highlights the need for improved oral cancer-related education and training on oral mucosal examination for dentists in Moldova, Belarus, and Armenia. Such skills are essential to enhance oral cancer prevention and to improve the prognostic outcome by early detection.

Current Knowledge and Awareness of Healthcare Professionals of Oral Cancer: a Study at a UK District General Hospital

The aim of this study was to assess the levels of awareness of oral cancer in healthcare staff at a district general hospital in the UK. This excluded those staff involved in head and neck cancer management. The study identified the areas where there was a deficiency in knowledge and quantified any differences across the professions. Following a literature review utilising the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Healthcare Databases Advanced Research (HDAS) tool, a questionnaire was designed, which was piloted amongst healthcare professionals on one ward. The feedback from the respondents was used to test the suitability of the survey format and modified before implementation across the hospital. One hundred fifty-five completed surveys were collected. The respondents were divided into doctors, nursing staff, and healthcare assistants (HCAs). There were generally low to middle levels of subjective individual confidence in identifying oral cancer. There was confusion on the clinical signs of oral cancer, with 29% of respondents believing that toothache was a sign. Almost half of all the respondents believed that dental decay was a risk factor for oral cancer. Although the significance of an early diagnosis was recognised as being important, a number of respondents were not aware of the likely differences in morbidity and mortality based on the stage of disease on diagnosis. This study has demonstrated that the healthcare workforce has gaps in knowledge both in of the presentation of oral cancer and the morbidity and mortality associated with a delay in diagnosis. Further learning opportunities for all healthcare staff will help to reduce future disease burden.

Knowledge of Dental Students from Croatia, Slovenia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina about Dental Care of Oncology Patients

The central role of the dentist in the treatment of oncology patients is to care for the patient’s oral cavity before, during, and after radio/chemotherapy. The aim of this research was to determine the knowledge of dental students from five universities in three neighboring countries, Croatia (Split, Rijeka, and Zagreb), Bosnia and Herzegovina (Sarajevo), and Slovenia (Ljubljana), about oncology patients’ dental care. A total of 140 students in their fourth, fifth, and sixth year of dental medicine studies participated in this research. A questionnaire with 36 specific questions was designed for this research and included questions about dental care of oncologic patients before, during, and after the oncology therapy. Most students are familiar with the incidence and most common type of head and neck tumors, while knowledge about tumor treatment and the side-effects of radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy is weak. Students did not show satisfactory knowledge about osteoradionecrosis, which is the most serious side-effect of radiotherapy; therefore, the emphasis on additional education should be greatest in this area. Teaching staff should be aware of lack of student knowledge and try to offer more information and practice in providing dental care for oncology patients.

Assessment of Knowledge Level and Awareness About Human Papillomavirus Among Dental Students

Epidemiological studies have shown that the worldwide trend of human papillomavirus (HPV)-induced oral cancer has increased. Dentistry students need comprehensive information about HPV to provide accurate advice to their patients. The aim of this study is to evaluate 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students' knowledge and awareness about HPV. A questionnaire consisting of 16 questions was applied to 318 students (100 3rd grade, 119 4th grade, and 99 5th grades), who were studying at XXX. In this survey, students' knowledge level and awareness were examined. In our study, 99 (31.0%) of the participants were male and 219 (68.9%) were female. There was a statistically significant difference between the classes in terms of participation rates in the statement "Some types of HPV cause oral cancer (p, 0.000; p < 0.05). The rate of participation of third grade (72%) students in this proposition was significantly lower than 4th grade (89.9%) and 5th grade (84.8%) students (p1, 0.000; p2, 0.000; p < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between 4th and 5th grade students (p > 0.05). Overall, advanced students showed better knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions regarding human papillomavirus-related oral cancer. Comprehensive training and motivation for improving dentistry students' awareness against HPV-induced oral cancer will also improve knowledge and attitudes of the dental students.

[Level of knowledge about oral cancer in dental students of the Universidad Científica del Sur]

Objective

The objective of this study was to determine the level of knowledge about oral cancer of third, fourth- and fifth-year students of dentistry at the Cientifica del Sur University in 2020.

Materials and methods

A questionnaire on knowledge of oral cancer was carried out in 166 students in the third, fourth and fifth year of dentistry. This questionnaire consisted of 24 multiple-choice questions about epidemiology, etiopathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and complications.

Results

A significant association was found between the level of knowledge about the etiopathogenesis of oral cancer and the year of study.

Conclusion

Third-year students had the highest percentage in relation to the level of knowledge about etiopathogenesis.

Are people aware of the link between alcohol and different types of Cancer?

BACKGROUND

Alcohol consumption is causally linked to several different types of cancer, including breast, liver, and colorectal cancer. While prior studies have found low awareness of the overall alcohol-cancer link, few have examined how awareness differs for each type of cancer. Greater awareness of risks associated with alcohol use may be a key factor in reducing alcohol-related cancer incidence.

METHODS

We surveyed 1759 people of legal drinking age at the 2019 Minnesota State Fair. We used multivariable generalized linear models and linear regression models with robust standard errors to investigate factors associated with alcohol-cancer risk awareness. Models were fit examining predictors of overall awareness of alcohol as a risk factor for cancer, and prevalence of awareness of alcohol as a risk factor for specific types of cancer.

RESULTS

Prevalence of awareness varied by cancer type, with awareness of alcohol causing liver cancer having the highest prevalence (92%) and awareness of alcohol causing breast cancer having the lowest prevalence (38%). Factors associated with awareness of alcohol-cancer risk differed by type of cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

In general, awareness of the risk of alcohol for certain types of cancer was low to moderate, reflecting a need to inform people not only that alcohol increases risk of cancer, but which types of cancer are most highly associated alcohol.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Oral Cancer and Suspicious Malignant Mucosal Changes among Future Dentists

This study aimed to assess the ability of dental students and recent graduates to detect and recognize mucosal changes that are suggestive of oral cancer and potentially malignant disorders. In this cross-sectional study, a questionnaire was administered to dental students and recent graduates of Ajman University (n = 132). Completed questionnaires were received from 84 (63.6%) females and 48 (36.4%) males which included fifth-year students (n = 80), interns (n = 39), and dental practitioners (n = 13). This questionnaire was designed to assess the respondent’s ability to detect and recognize different types of oral lesions, as well as their knowledge of oral cancer appearance and malignancy potential. The overall accuracy of diagnosis was 46%. The participants correctly identified normal variations, benign tumors, malignant tumors, and premalignant lesions at rates of 60.3%, 31.0%, 55.7%, and 33.4%, respectively. There was no significant difference between the two genders in their ability to recognize and detect correct answers (females, 48.3%; males, 47.2%). According to education level, interns provided the highest percentage of correct answers (52.5%), followed by newly dental practitioners (51.9%) and fifth-year students (44.1%). Conclusion: The respondents of this survey did not exhibit a satisfactory diagnostic capability in recognizing mucosal changes consistent with the clinical presentation of oral cancer. Thus, a need exists for improved and updated educational methods for undergraduate students regarding oral cancer and potentially malignant disorders. Meanwhile, practitioners should look for oral abnormalities to provide better diagnosis and management. Practitioners should also stay up to date on the oral malignancy topic by attending workshops and clinicopathological conferences.

Perception and outcome of oral cancer awareness among clinical undergraduate dental students of Tertiary health care centre at Kanpur city: A cross-sectional study

Background:

The International Agency for Research on Cancer has predicted that India's incidence of cancer will increase from 1 million in 2012 to more than 1.7 million in 2035. Lack of knowledge about oral cancer among general dental practitioners leads to delay in the diagnosis and treatment of such lesions. The aim of the present study was to investigate the awareness and knowledge of prevention and early diagnosis of oral cancer among dental undergraduate students.

Materials and Methods:

A cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted. A total of 139 undergraduate students who received teaching on oral diseases including oral cancer in their clinical postings in the department of oral medicine and radiology were included in the study. All the students were subjected to evaluation using structured questionnaires with multiple choices. Data collected were subjected to statistical analysis using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 18. Chi-square test was done to evaluate the statistical significance.

Results:

The present study showed that the participants had average awareness and knowledge of oral cancer and its clinical presentations. The awareness and knowledge toward oral cancer protocols revealed a decreasing trend from final-year students to 3^rd-year and interns. Nearly 66.2% of the undergraduates felt less well informed regarding oral cancer. All the undergraduates (100%) requested further information about oral cancer.

Conclusion:

The present study concluded that knowledge and awareness of undergraduate dental students with respect to early detection and prevention of oral cancer was satisfactory. It is recommended that the syllabus of dental courses should be expanded to provide knowledge regarding the prevention and early diagnosis of oral cancer.

Referral and Management Considerations for a Biopsy: Why Choose the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon

Traditional oral and maxillofacial surgeon office practice spans the full scope of patient management. Most surgeons practicing in the United States dedicate their primary focus to the needs of patients referred by our dental colleagues. Dentoalveolar surgical practice remains the mainstay of office-based care. Oral cavity disease typically occurs from chronic bacterial infections of carious teeth, chronic periodontitis, fractured teeth. Recognition of oral disease patterns occurs by medical and dental clinicians. Oral and maxillofacial surgeon practice is uniquely designed to provide choice for the diagnosis and management of oral cavity disease, including neoplastic oral cavity and maxillofacial mucocutaneous disease.

Evaluación del conocimiento del cáncer oral y manejo odontológico del paciente oncológico en Cali, Colombia

Objetivo: evaluar el conocimiento del cáncer oral y su manejo odontológico, en estudiantes de pregrado de último año de medicina y odontología y odontólogos egresados de diferentes universidades en Cali, Colombia. Métodos: se realizó un estudio descriptivo, cuantitativo de corte transversal. El instrumento de recolección de datos fue una encuesta de 19 preguntas. La muestra incluyó 360 participantes y se realizó un análisis multivariado con pruebas no paramétricas con un grado de confiabilidad del 95%. Resultados: las categorías evaluadas fueron: I) conocimiento del cáncer oral y II) manejo del paciente oncológico. Según la rúbrica empleada, el nivel alcanzado fue “regular” en ambas categorías, con un promedio de 8,7/19 para estudiantes de odontología, 11,29/19 para estudiantes de medicina y 11,33/19 para odontólogos egresados. La media general fue 10,37 respuestas acertadas (a=0,05). Hubo diferencias estadísticamente significativas al evaluar las tres facultades de odontología en ambas categorías y la rúbrica refleja un desempeño “regular” aún para la universidad con el mejor promedio. Conclusión: el nivel de conocimiento sobre cáncer oral y su manejo odontológico en Cali, Colombia, según la rúbrica planteada es insuficiente en la población evaluada y se sugiere un replanteamiento de estrategias de abordaje de estos temas desde la academia.

Knowledge assessment among the fourth and fifth year students on the potentially malignant lesions of oral cavity

Background/Aim: Potentially malignant oral lesions (PMOL) are lesions that have an increased risk of malignant transformation concerning healthy oral mucosa. This research aimed to assess the knowledge of students of final years of study on the potentially malignant lesions of the oral cavity. Material and Methods: 120 students of the fourth and fifth years of study participated in this research,60 respondents were fourth-year students, 60 respondents were fifth-year students. All of the respondents signed informed consent.According to the type of research, this is a cross-sectional study which was conducted by completing a 15-item questionnaire. The results were statistically analyzed and processed in the SPSS Statistics 21.0 program. Results: The results indicate that during the clinical examination the fourth and fifth-year students examine the oral mucosa as well. 61% of the students find themselves poorly informed on the PMOL. In the fourth year of study, only 5,5% of students responded that they were well informed, while in the fifth year that number totaled 28,5%. When knowledge self-assessment is concerned the difference has shown itself to be statistically significant between the fourth and fifth-year students. When asked what knowledge on the prevention of oral cancer they expect to receive during their studies, 78% of the students expected more knowledge than at that moment - 36% of which were fifth-year students, and 42% were fourth-year students. Conclusions: Even though the oral cavity is easily accessible to examination, the discovery of oral cancer occurs quite late. Ours, as well as results of other studies, impose the need for better theoretical and practical education of the students.

Head and neck cancer awareness: a survey of young people in international communities

INTRODUCTION

Head and neck cancer (HNC) is killing young people yearly. The knowledge of HNC risk factors and its symptoms among this population group may go a long way in HNC prevention among them. This study aims to: determine the level of awareness of HNC; determine the prevalence of HNC risk factors; and explore the knowledge of HNC risk factors, HNC symptoms, as well as family history of HNC among youth in the international communities (with focus on the Canadian and Nigerian youth).

METHODS

A sample of 801 youth were surveyed using an e-questionnaire. The questionnaire obtained information from each participant about their: socio-demographic information; knowledge of HNC, its risk factors, and its manifestations; and family history of HNC. Data obtained from the participants were analyzed using the Statistical Analysis Software (SAS Version 9.4 for Windows).

RESULTS

The majority (73%) of the surveyed youth (n=801) were residing in Nigeria, seven-tenths of them were between the age 18 and 24 years, and 53% were females. Less than 10% had a history of smoking, 7% were active smokers, and 24% had history of oral sex (of which 57% (108/109) of them had a lifetime history of more than one oral sexual partner). Around half (51%) of the participants had never heard of HNC before. Only 4% knew of a family member who had suffered/is suffering from HNC. Half of the participants were not sure whether HNC can manifest without initial complaint, pain, or symptoms. Only 9% of the participants erroneously believed that HNC is a contagious disease. Comparative analyses among subgroups revealed that a higher proportion of those participants who were: from Canada; young adults; and males generally knew about HNC when compared with the proportions recorded among those in the adolescents; females, and Nigerian participants' categories. Lastly, 76% of the participants showed interest in knowing more about HNC.

CONCLUSION

The majority of the surveyed youth demonstrated poor knowledge of HNC. Also, a significant proportion of them are at risk of developing HNC disease in future, if they keep indulging in HNC risky behaviors. There exists the need to conduct community health education programs on HNC among youth in these surveyed communities.

Assessing oral cancer awareness among dental and medical students of a Malaysian private university

OBJECTIVE

Dental and medical practitioners play a pivotal role in detecting early stages of oral cancers. Hence, future dental and medical practitioners need to have adequate knowledge of oral cancer. This study was conducted to assess the current level of knowledge, attitude and practices regarding oral cancer among dental and medical students of a Malaysian private university.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted on third-, fourth- and final-year students of the dental and medical courses of MAHSA University, Malaysia. A total of 557 students participated in the survey. Oral cancer awareness, knowledge about risk factors, signs and symptoms of oral cancer, attitude and practices towards oral cancer were assessed using 43 questions. The questionnaire was pretested, and internal consistency, assessed using Cronbach's alpha, was acceptable (α > 0.7). The data were analysed using IBM SPSS version 21. The chi-square test was used to analyse the difference in oral cancer awareness between medical and dental students.

RESULTS

Among 557 participants, there were 351 (63%) medical students and 206 (37%) dental students. Based on the results obtained, dental students had a higher level of knowledge than medical students regarding oral cancer (P < 0.05). More than 90% of the dental students were able to identify smoking, alcohol consumption, betel quid chewing, human papilloma virus infection and exposure to radiation as risk factors associated with oral cancer compared to more than 50% of medical students (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Through education and training, awareness amongst medical students can be reinforced, which will promote early detection of precancerous lesions and oral cancers.

Dental students' awareness and attitudes toward HPV-related oral cancer: a cross sectional study at the University of Jordan

BACKGROUND

The incidence of human papilloma virus (HPV)-related oral cancer has recently increased worldwide. The role of dentists is of prime importance in the early detection of oral cancer which would result in a favourable outcome for the patients. The aim of the current study was to assess the knowledge, awareness and attitudes of dental students, interns and postgraduate maxillofacial residents at the University of Jordan (UJ) to different aspects of oral cancer, particularly those related to HPV.

METHODS

A paper-based survey was conducted at UJ among all pre-clinical dental students (pre-clinical group), clinical dental students, interns and postgraduate maxillofacial residents (clinical group). The survey included five sections comprising 29 items. The sections included questions investigating oral cancer knowledge, oral cancer screening, HPV knowledge and the ability to discuss personal topics with patients.

RESULTS

A total of 376 respondents out of 1052 potential participants completed at least one item of the survey (study coverage of 35.7%). Among the study participants, the pre-clinical group represented 41.2% (n = 155) and the clinical group represented 58.8% (n = 221). The majority of participants in the clinical group showed better knowledge on oral cancer potential anatomic sites, clinical presentation and possible risk factors compared to the pre-clinical group. Most participants in the clinical group (n = 195, 88.2%) correctly identified HPV as a risk factor for oral cancer development. The majority of participants in the clinical group displayed suitable attitude towards oral cancer screening despite their desire for a reliable screening device and additional training in oral cancer screening. A number of limitations in basic knowledge about HPV was noticed among participants in the clinical group particularly related to unawareness of the vaccine availability. The majority of participants in the clinical group displayed hesitancy in discussing personal topics with the patients, including the history of previous sexually transmitted infections and sexual abuse.

CONCLUSIONS

Gaps in knowledge regarding HPV-related oral cancer has been detected which necessitate intervention measures including curricular changes, training workshops and awareness campaigns.

Assessing Oral Cancer Awareness Among Dental Students

The aim of this study was to assess oral cancer awareness among undergraduate dental students in Marmara University Faculty of Dentistry. A validated questionnaire which tested oral cancer awareness was given to third- and fifth-year students of the dental faculty of Marmara University. A total of 198 students participated in this survey. Knowledge of oral cancer risk factors and diagnosis procedures, dentistry student's attitude towards oral cancers, management practice regarding oral cancer, and oral cancer information sources were assessed using 25 questions. The data were analyzed with IBM SPSS Statistics 22.0 program. Among 198 participant dentistry students, there were 99 (50%) third-grade and 99 (50%) fifth-grade students. The largest number of the third- and last-grade students identified tobacco (98%) and alcohol usage (87.4%), prior oral cancer lesions (94.9%), viral infections (91.9%), UV exposure (94.4%), betel quid chewing (84.8%), older age (62.1%), and low consumption of fruit and vegetables (85.4%). Both groups showed higher scores in indicating squamous cell carcinoma as the most common form of oral cancer (p < 0.05); yet, third-grade students performed significantly higher scores in indicating erythroplakia and leukoplakia for most likely to be precancerous (p = 0.001; p < 0.05). This study highlighted the importance of improved educational methods for dentistry on oral cancer detection and prevention.

Knowledge and Practice of Oral Cancer Screening in Teaching Faculty-Comparison of Specialty and Year of Clinical Experience

The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge, practice, confidence, and perceived barriers to oral cancer screening among teaching faculty in Japan. Results were compared by specialist as well as years of clinical experience. A 25-question survey was used to assess the oral cancer screening practices of faculty dentists at Iwate Medical University, School of Dental Medicine, the only dental school located in the northeast (Tohoku) region of Japan. The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Iwate Medical University. The response rate was 83% (n = 110, 71.8% were male). This survey revealed that only 43.6% of the dentists performed oral cancer screening frequently (always or usually) at the initial appointment, and there was no significant differences between specialists and clinical experience. Visual inspection of the oral cavity was the primary screening method, but the frequency and content of the examination (TMJ and tonsil) was significantly different between specialties. A history of cancer and tobacco use motivated providers to perform an examination and was significantly different between various specialists and clinically experienced providers. In contrast, HPV and alcohol consumption were a weak motivator. The confidence level of providers on their examination knowledge/skills was poor, especially among junior faculty. More than 80% of junior faculty indicated a lack of knowledge/skills as a major barrier.

Knowledge and practices of dentists in France regarding oral mucosal diseases: a national survey

Introduction:One of the dental surgeon's roles is to identify, diagnose and supervise the treatment of oral pathologies (OP), and/or to refer patients to the appropriate specialists. Today, the delay in diagnosing patients with OP is very long and may impact their prognosis.Objective:We conducted a national survey of French practitioners to estimate their knowledge and practices regarding the management of these pathologies.Methods:About 15,000 dentists were contacted by email to complete a questionnaire designed to assess the diagnoses and management of OP.Results:Overall, for 560 answers (3.8%), DS did not declare any significant difficulties in diagnosing and managing any kind of pathologies. However, we were able to distinguish statistical differences among practitioners depending on the type of lesions and between the practitioners themselves. The associated factors were gender, graduation year, mode of practice and continuing education over the last 5 years. The majority of DS justified their diagnostic difficulties by the fact that they do not encounter patients with these types of pathology frequently enough, and by insufficient education.Conclusion:According to our study, it is necessary to reinforce the training and the continuing medical education of DS regarding OP, especially through the use of practical cases.

Knowledge of Oral Cancer among the Fourth and Fifth Year Dental Students

Background

The literature data show insufficient knowledge and awareness about oral cancer among dental and medical students.

Objective

To assess the knowledge of graduating dental students regarding oral cancer and to assess their awareness regarding the prevention and early detection of oral cancer. Also student’s smoking status was examined aimed to investigate their attitude towards smoking as a risk factor for development of oral cancer and to assess the prevalence of smoking among dental students.

Subjects and Methods

The study group consisted of 83 students of the fourth and fifth years of dental medicine study who answered the questions written in the original 16-item questionnaire.

Results

More than half of the students considered their knowledge to be good, a quarter of them regarded their knowledge as being poor. Almost 16% of students considered their knowledge to be very good, whereas only two students rated their knowledge as ‘excellent’. Students of the fifth year were more likely to be smokers compared to fourth year students (39.5% vs. 22.5%). Higher percentage of non-smokers than smokers had marked 'stop smoking' as an important preventive measure (non-smokers 91.2%, smokers 84.3%, p = 0.01).

Conclusion

Majority of the students of fourth and fifth year of study rate their knowledge about oral cancer as good. A large number of students of both years considered hairy leukoplakia a potentially malignant disorder. Students non smokers recognize “stop smoking” as an important preventive measure unlike students smokers who show a more realistic attitude towards smoking as a risk factor for oral cancer.

Awareness of Undergraduate Dental and Medical Students Towards Oral Cancer

Oral cancer is a common malignancy in Nepal and many other South East Asian countries, which is predisposed by a variety of potentially malignant oral diseases. Considering the importance of knowledge of health professionals and their role in early diagnosis and reduction of cancer statistics, this study aims to evaluate the awareness of undergraduate dental and medical students towards oral cancer. The study involved undergraduate dental and medical students of BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Nepal. A self-administered questionnaire adapted from Carter to Ogden was distributed. One hundred forty-three dental and 311 medical students responded to the questionnaire. Significantly more dental (80.4 %) than medical students (36.0 %) were found to routinely examine the oral mucosa. Tobacco smoking and chewing were the most commonly recognized risk factors by both medical and dental students. Most of the students found ulcer as the common change associated with oral cancer. Only 30 out of the total students felt very well informed about oral cancer. This study has demonstrated a lack of awareness in some aspects of oral cancer among medical and dental students which highlights the need to frame new teaching methodologies. Similar studies from other health institutions would provide an insight regarding the same and could be a base for formulating a uniform curriculum in the implementation of knowledge regarding oral cancer.

Paradigm shift in head and neck oncology patient management

Objective

This article describes a paradigm shift in what is considered to be good care for patients living with and after (head and neck) cancer. HNO patients often experience severe and difficult physical and psychosocial problems due to the nature and location of the disease. Many disciplines are involved in their treatment, so their voice is only one amongst many others in the decision making process. For this patient group it seems complicated to put the concept of Shared Decision Making into practice. As a step in this direction, patient reported outcomes which ask patients to select the disconcerting issues and symptoms can be used as a basis for referral, supportive care and treatment decision making. We need to provide more tailored and personalized information that is specific to individual circumstances, preferences and concerns and focuses more on the impact of treatment and access to help and support. Follow up of these patients should be concentrated on both medical and emotional aspects.

Practice implications

A shift in the way caregivers provide their information contributes to a more profound involvement of patients in treatment decisions.

Knowledge and Attitudes About Oral Cancer Among Dental Students After Bologna Plan Implementation

Oral cancer is the most common of head and neck tumours. Dentists have an important role in the most effective prevention measures: controlling aetiological factors and early detection. Dental curriculum has suffered changes in their structures and contents during Bologna process. The aim of this study is to explore oral cancer knowledge and attitudes among dental students of Granada after the implementation of the Bologna plan. A cross-sectional study was carried out in the School of Dentistry of the University of Granada. A questionnaire was delivered to dental students in the fourth and fifth years (of study) to assess knowledge and attitudes about oral cancer area. 79.3 % related that they examined the oral mucosa from their patients regularly. Almost the whole sample (95.9 %) said that they would advise their patients about risk factors for oral cancer when they graduated. Tobacco followed by alcohol was the main oral cancer risk factor identified (94.2 and 72.7 %, respectively). 96.7 % of the sample would like to receive more information about this subject. Fourth year students had taught self-examination for early detection of oral cancer more frequently than fifth year students (42.5 versus 22.9 %, respectively). The results of this study revealed that dental students had good attitudes in the area of oral cancer. On the other hand, it highlights the need for an improvement of the teaching program regarding risk factors for oral cancer and performing routine oral examination.

Oral Cancer Knowledge and Diagnostic Ability Among Dental Students

The purpose of this study is to examine factors that influence the diagnostic ability of dental students with regards to oral cancer and oral potentially malignant disorders. Dental students at different levels of study were directly interviewed to examine their oral cancer knowledge and diagnostic ability using a validated and pre-tested survey instrument containing validated clinical images of oral cancer and oral potentially malignant disorders. An oral cancer knowledge scale (0 to 31) was generated from correct responses on oral cancer general knowledge, and a diagnostic ability scale (0 to 100) was generated from correct selections of suspicious oral lesions. Knowledge scores ranged from 0 to 27 (mean 10.1 ± 6.0); mean knowledge scores increased with year of study; 5th year students had the highest mean knowledge score (19.1 ± 4.0), while 1st year students had the lowest (5.6 ± 3.5). Diagnostic ability scores increased with year of study and ranged from 0 to 88.5 % (mean 41.8 % ± 15.6). The ability to recognize suspicious oral lesions was significantly correlated with knowledge about oral cancer and oral potentially malignant disorders (r = 0.28; P < 0.001). There is a need to improve oral cancer education curricula; increasing students' contact with patients who have oral lesions including oral cancer will help to improve their future diagnostic ability and early detection practices.

Characteristics and predictors of oral cancer knowledge in a predominantly African American community

Purpose

To characterize smoking and alcohol use, and to describe predictors of oral cancer knowledge among a predominantly African-American population.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted between September, 2013 among drag racers and fans in East St. Louis. Oral cancer knowledge was derived from combining questionnaire items to form knowledge score. Covariates examined included age, sex, race, marital status, education status, income level, insurance status, tobacco and alcohol use. Adjusted linear regression analysis measured predictors of oral cancer knowledge.

Results

Three hundred and four participants completed questionnaire; 72.7% were African Americans. Smoking rate was 26.7%, alcohol use was 58.3%, and mean knowledge score was 4.60 ± 2.52 out of 17. In final adjusted regression model, oral cancer knowledge was associated with race and education status. Compared with Caucasians, African Americans were 29% less likely to have high oral cancer knowledge (β = -0.71; 95% CI: -1.35, -0.07); and participants with a high school diploma or less were 124% less likely to have high oral cancer knowledge compared with college graduates (β = -1.24; 95% CI: -2.44, -0.41).

Conclusions

There was lower oral cancer knowledge among African Americans and those with low education. The prevalence of smoking was also very high. Understanding predictors of oral cancer knowledge is important in future design of educational interventions specifically targeted towards high-risk group for oral cancer.

Comparison of views on the need for continuing education on oral cancer between general dentists and oral medicine experts: A Delphi survey

Objectives:

The role of dental professionals in screening for oral cancer has been limited. The purpose of this study was to investigate and compare the educational priorities of oral medicine specialists, general dental practitioners, and doctors of dental surgery with regards to the diagnosis and management of oral cancers and potential malignant disorders.

Study Design:

This was a longitudinal survey.

Materials and Methods:

A Delphi survey was directed to a panel of 25 oral medicine specialists asking them to identify the major difficulties in diagnosing and managing patients with oral cancer or suspected malignancy. In a second phase, two groups of generalists were asked to express their ratings on the issues identified by experts.

Results:

The response rate of the experts to the survey was 84%, while only 44% of the generalists participated. Although the three groups agreed on most of the issues, there were significant differences of opinions on 10 of the items proposed by specialists (P < 0.05 from the Kruskal–Wallis test), which were observed mainly between experts and general dental practitioners (P < 0.017 from the Mann–Whitney U test). The opinion of the participants about future investments in the field of education resulted in similar results (P > 0.05 from the Chi-square test), with the specialists ranking highest on mandatory annual thematic courses, while the generalists prioritizing more interactive and extensive pre-graduation courses on oral cancer detection.

Conclusion:

This study confirms a clear need to improve the educational foundation on oral cancer by a didactic process starting with pre-graduation courses that should involve National Health Care Services, National Dental Associations, and academia.

Factors Influencing Early Detection of Oral Cancer by Primary Health-Care Professionals

The purposes of this study are to determine early detection practices performed by primary healthcare professionals, to compare medical and dental sub-groups, and to identify factors that influence the ability of medical and dental practitioners to recognize precancerous changes and clinical signs of oral cancer. A 28-item survey instrument was used to interview a total of 330 Jordanian primary health-care professionals (165 dental and 165 medical). An oral cancer knowledge scale (0 to 31) was generated from correct responses on oral cancer general knowledge. An early detection practice scale (0 to 24) was generated from the reported usage and frequency of procedures in oral cancer examination. Also, a diagnostic ability scale (0 to 100) was generated from correct selections of suspicious oral lesions. Only 17.8 % of the participants reported that they routinely performed oral cancer screening in practices. Their oral cancer knowledge scores ranged from 3 to 31 with a mean of 15.6. The early detection practice scores ranged from 2 to 21 with a mean of 11.6. A significant positive correlation was found between knowledge scores and early detection practice scores (r = 0.22; p < 0.001). The diagnostic ability scores ranged from 11.5 to 96 with a mean of 43.6. The diagnostic ability score was significantly correlated with knowledge scores (r = 0.39; p < 0.001), but not with early detection practice scores (r = 0.01; p = 0.92). Few significant differences were found between medical and dental primary care professionals. Continuous education courses on early diagnosis of oral cancer and oral mucosal lesions are needed for primary health-care professionals.

Knowledge and risk perception of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer among non-medical university students

BACKGROUND

To assess non-medical university students' knowledge and perceived risk of developing oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among non-medical students of a private Midwestern university in the United States in May 2012. Questionnaire assessed demographic information and contained 21 previously validated questions regarding knowledge and perceived risk of developing oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer. Knowledge scale was categorized into low and high. Risk level was estimated based on smoking, drinking, and sexual habits. Bivariate associations between continuous and categorical variables were assessed using Pearson correlation and Chi-square tests, respectively.

RESULTS

The response rate was 87% (100 out of 115 students approached). Eighty-one percent (81%) had low oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer knowledge; and only 2% perceived that their oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer risk was high. Risk perception was negatively correlated with age at sexual debut, r (64) = -0.26, p = 0.037; one-way ANOVA showed a marginally significant association between risk perception and number of sexual partners, F(4, 60) = 2.48, p = 0.05. There was no significant association between knowledge and perception of risk; however, oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer knowledge was significantly associated with frequency of prevention of STDs (p < 0.05). Although 86% had heard about oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer, only 18% had heard of oral mouth examination, and 7% of these reported ever having an oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer exam.

CONCLUSIONS

Oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer knowledge and risk perception is low among this student population. Since oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer incidence is increasingly shifting towards younger adults, interventions must be tailored to this group in order to improve prevention and control.