Awareness regarding screening of oral cancers in young dental graduate

ABSTRACT

Oral cancer is an ideal cancer to identify early by screening. Dentists can play a critical role in the early diagnosis of oral cancers. Because oral and pharyngeal cancers can be recognized at an earliest stage by visual and tactile examination, dentists are one of the most likely groups of health care practitioners who have a key role in counseling patients regarding early detection of oral cancer. Assessment of the level of knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of dental health care workers regarding oral cancer is thus important and it is vital to train such professionals in oral cancer risk, prevention and control measures, and detection procedures. The aim of this study was thus to investigate the oral cancer awareness of dentist at Lahore dental schools by assessing knowledge and attitude about oral cancer risk factors. This cross-sectional survey was conducted between September to October 2011 by self-administered questionnaires among a random sample of 75 young dentists of dental institutes of Lahore. Questionnaires were then entered in the SPSS and quantitative e qualitative data was analyzed. Though dentists were aware of risk factors associated with oral cancers and understand the importance of screening in early diagnosis as shown by this study but more education was needed in dental schools, postgraduate programs and continuing education programs to enhance dental professionals' knowledge of Oral Cancer risk factors and diagnostic concepts. Such programs should include information about adjunctive diagnostic aids as well