Oral Cancer Awareness and Knowledge in Adults Attending a Dental Hospital in Northeast India

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the awareness of oral cancer when compared to other cancers in adults attending Regional Dental College, Guwahati, Assam and determine their knowledge regarding risk factors, signs, symptoms and causes of oral cancer. Method:A cross-sectional survey involving 824 adults was conducted using a questionnaire which covered 21 questions including topics like socio-demographic aspects, oral cancer awareness, knowledge about risk factors associated with oral cavity and early signs of oral cancer, lifestyle habits like smoking, alcohol consumption and dentist visits.Results: Nearly seventy percent (580 out of 824) of subjects participating in the study were aware of the term 'oral cancer'. 74.27% and 63.59% subjects identified tobacco and smoking respectively as important risk factors, but failed to consider alcohol consumption as major contributing factor. 66.5% individuals considered "difficulty in swallowing" as a symptom of oral cancer though 62.1% individuals were unable to identify "persistent white or red spot" as a symptom of oral cancer. Only 11.16% individuals had undergone screening for oral cancer during their lifetime. Conclusion:The lack of basic awareness about the risk factors, causes, signs and symptoms of oral cancer in this cross-sectional population of Northeast India is clearly evident in our study. Since, Northeast India accounts for more than 40% of these cases, interactive cancer awareness programs should be taken up by research organizations and government to educate people and make them better understand the serious implications of oral cancer.

Knowledge of Oral Cancer among Dental Patients in South-Southern Nigeria

“…The reliability was good (k= 0.85). The predominance of female individuals in our study (73.2%) is in accordance with other reports 9,14,18 and may be explained by random variation or by the fact that there is greater proportion of women attending hospitals. Habits of alcohol consumption and smoking in the present study are encouraging as 81.2% of the responded neither smoke nor consume alcohol.…”

“…Unfortunately, most oral cancers, even in developed countries, are detected in late stages 13 . A commonly cited reason for late presentation is the inability to recognise the early signs of oral cancers 14 . Thus raising awareness and educating the public on early signs of cancer should enable patients to present at an early stage resulting in improved survival.…”

“…12,13 Oral carcinogenesis is a multistep process in which genetic events leading to the disruption of the normal regulatory pathways such as functions of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. 14 Exposure to tobacco increases exposure to carcinogenic tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNA) and to nitrosamines derived from areca nut alkaloids. 15 The family history of head and neck cancer is a significant risk factor.…”