Awareness and Knowledge of Oral Cancer among University Students in Malaysia

Sami Abdo Radman Al Dubai,Riyadh Saif Ali,Aied M Alabsi,Kurubaran Ganasegeran,Mustafa Ahmed Alshagga

doi:10.7314/apjcp.2012.13.1.165

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the level of knowledge of oral cancer and its associated factors among university students in Malaysia. A cross sectional study was conducted among 200 university students in Malaysia. A self administered questionnaire was used to collect data. It included questions on socio- demographic data, awareness and knowledge of oral cancer. Mean age of the respondents was 21.5 ± 2.5 and the age ranged from 18 to 27 years. The majority of the respondents were aware of oral cancer (92.0%) and recognized the followings as signs and symptoms of oral cancer: ulcer and oral bleeding (71.0%), followed by swelling (61.5%). A satisfactory knowledge was observed on the following risk factors; smoking (95.5%), poor oral hygiene (90.5%), family history (90.0%), alcohol (84.5%) and poor fitting dentures (83.0%). However, unsatisfactory knowledge was observed about hot/spicy food (46.5%), obesity (36.0%), old age (31.5%), dietary factor (29.0%) and smokeless tobacco (25.5%). Knowledge of oral cancer was associated significantly with age (p<0.01), year of study (p<0.01) and course of study (p<0.01). Instead of satisfactory awareness and knowledge of oral cancer and its clinical presentations, inadequate knowledge was observed about its risk factors. There is a need to introduce oral cancer education among university students.

Highlights

Oral cancer is the eleventh most common cancer in the world (Atessa et al, 2010)
This study investigated the awareness and knowledge of undergraduate medical and nursing students regarding clinical signs, risk factors and curability of oral cancer
The rate of awareness among medical student in this study (92%) was higher than that found among UK medical students (28%) (Lachlan & Graham, 2007)

Summary

Introduction

Oral cancer is the eleventh most common cancer in the world (Atessa et al, 2010). It accounts for approximately 2.4 percent of all cancers (Rhodus, 2005) with high incidence rate in developing countries (Peterson, 2003). It represents an incidence of 3% and 2% of all cancers among men and women respectively (Greenlee et al, 2001). Among the Indian males and females, oral cancer accounts for 4.5% and 6.5% respectively of all cancers (National Cancer Registry, 2003). Oral cancer was the nineteenth and sixteenth leading cancers among men and women respectively (National Cancer Registry, 2003)

Objectives

Results

Conclusion