Evaluation of awareness of oral cancer and oral premalignant lesions in dentistry students: A three-center study

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the awareness of oral cancer and oral premalignant lesions in dentistry student at three different faculties. Materials and Methods: The question-based questionnaire study included 382 fourth- and fifth-year students (n=382; 239 females, 143 males) from three different dentistry faculties in Türkiye. A cross-sectional questionnaire consisting of 43 questions about oral premalignant lesions and oral cancer was administered to fourth- and fifth-year students to assess awareness of knowledge, attitudes, and practical approaches between May 2023 and June 2023. Results: A statistically significant difference was observed between male and female fourth-year students (p=0.024). The mean values of male students were higher than female students. The highest values in terms of knowledge in the fourth and fifth years were observed in the Uşak University. In the fifth-year students, the highest values in terms of attitude and practice were observed in the students of Uşak University. Fifth-year students of Uşak University showed higher values in terms of knowledge, attitude, and practice than fourth-year students. In terms of attitude, fifth-year students of Tokat University showed higher values than fourth-year students. In total, fifth-year students showed higher values in terms of knowledge and attitude than fourth-year students. Tokat University showed higher awareness of oral premalignant lesions than the other universities. Conclusion: Early diagnosis of oral cancer and oral premalignant lesions are among the important responsibilities of dentists. Increasing the awareness of dentists in this area can contribute to the solution of a prominent public health problem.