A Preliminary Study on Early Detection of Oral Cancer with Opportunistic Screening: Insights from Dental Surgeons in Sri Lanka

Abstract

In Sri Lanka, opportunistic screening is encouraged as a cost-effective tool to bring down the prevalence of oral cancer, which is the most common cancer among males. The objectives of the study were to determine the practices, attitudes, and level of competency of dental surgeons regarding the early detection of oral cancer and oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) through opportunistic screening. A prospective study was conducted online via a Google form using a pretested, self-administered questionnaire of 22 close-ended questions and 3 open-ended questions. Out of the 137 dental surgeons who responded, 88% (121/137) of the participants believed that screening high-risk target groups would be more effective in the early detection of oral cancer rather than opportunistic screening. Only 64% (88/137) of the participants frequently check for oral cancer and OPMDs when patients visit for dental treatment. Participants recalled an average of 34 patients (4628/137) with clinically suspicious lesions being diagnosed during examination at general dental practice during the past year, and 98% (134/137) of the participants believed that they should receive additional training in order to identify and diagnose clinically suspicious oral OPMDs and oral cancer. Opportunistic screening in general dental practice as an oral-cancer prevention strategy is appreciable, but due emphasis should be given to other prevention strategies such as population screening and screening high-risk target groups. The level of confidence of general dental practitioners in the early detection of oral cancer has to be raised in order to achieve higher standards in oral cancer prevention through opportunistic screening.