KNOWLEDGE, AWARENESS AND PRACTICE REGARDING ORAL CANCER AMONG UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS AND INTERNS IN A DENTAL HOSPITAL

Abstract

Background: Oral cancer is one of the three most common types of cancer and 2nd most common cancer in males in Nepal. The main causes of oral cancer are the consumption of tobacco, areca nuts, alcohol, betel nuts etc Very few studies have been done in Nepal regarding awareness of Oral Cancer among college-going students. Since future doctors will also be responsible for the prevention and management of Oral cancer, it prompted us to conduct a study to evaluate the awareness, knowledge and practice regarding Oral cancer.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was done after the clearance from the Institutional Review Committee. The study sample was among the 700 BDS and MBBS Students and Interns who responded through the Google Forms questionnaire online, within 1 month. The questionnaire consisted of 10 validated questions, related to Oral cancer. The results were tabulated in Microsoft Excel/ spreadsheet by Google. Descriptive statistics were obtained and frequency and percentages were calculated.

Results: Among the 405 participants, only 15.5% routinely examined the oral mucosa, 98.51% are going to advised the patients regarding the risk factors of oral cancer, 79.25% felt they had not been sufficiently taught to diagnose oral cancer, 82.71% felt that they were inadequately informed about clinical appearance of oral cancer, 86.91% felt that they have inadequate knowledge concerning prevention and detection of oral cancer and 60% said they are going to refer a patient with suspected oral lesion to oral medicine.

Conclusions: There is an overall lack of awareness among the participants regarding the requirement to routinely examine the oral cavity. The participants do not have adequate knowledge and awareness regarding oral cancer prevention and early detection.