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

Abstract

SummaryBackground/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.

The Level of Knowledge of Dental Profession Students of Universitas Airlangga on Leukoplakia as an Oral Potentially Malignant Disorder: An Observational Analytic Cross-Sectional Study

“…14 When dentist or dental undergraduate students do not suspect leukoplakia and a definite diagnosis has not been established, patients will lose time to seek treatment. 15 Therefore, other than the dentists, the knowledge of leukoplakia is also essential for dental undergraduate students who are prospective dentists. 16 Early detection of leukoplakia should be performed given the potential to develop cancer which once developed will affect patients' quality of life and their survival rates.…”

“…14 When dentist or dental undergraduate students do not suspect leukoplakia and a definite diagnosis has not been established, patients will lose time to seek treatment. 15 Therefore, other than the dentists, the knowledge of leukoplakia is also essential for dental undergraduate students who are prospective dentists. 16…”