Abstract
Lack of knowledge and awareness about oral cancer, its risk factors and negligence of the early warning signs play crucial role in raising the incidence of the disease. The present study was carried out to evaluate the awareness of oral cancer among patients visiting Kantipur Dental College, Kathmandu, Nepal. The cross-sectional study was done in 471 patients from 15-85 years. Self administered questionnaire was prepared which comprised of knowledge of oral cancer, source of information, its early signs and symptoms along with the awareness of its risk factors. Most of the participants (41.80%) had not heard of oral cancer. 31.60% recognized tobacco smoking and tobacco chewing as the chief risk factor with 15.50% and 10.80% of participants who identified white patch and red patch as early sign of oral cancer respectively. Pearson's chi square test was used which showed statistically significant association of total mean knowledge score and awareness score with age, education level and occupation (p<0.05). This study done in dental patients showed lack of knowledge and awareness in general public about oral cancer. There seem to be a need for more planned awareness programs through newspapers, radio, television and health campaigns regarding the association of habits in the development of oral cancer and benefits of detecting oral cancer at early stage for better prognosis.
Highlights
Participants from 15-85 years with their written consentGlobally, oral cancer is a serious and life threatening problem
A total of 471 subjects participated in the study, among which only 182 (38.60%) had heard about oral cancer, whereas approximately half of the subjects had no idea about it 289(41.80%)
The study sample comprised of almost equal distribution of Male (49.70%) and Female (50.30%) with no significant gender difference in the knowledge as well as awareness score about the existence of oral cancer (Table 2 and Table 3)
Summary
Participants from 15-85 years with their written consentGlobally, oral cancer is a serious and life threatening problem. Inadequate the awareness of its risk factors and the various cancers knowledge about the disease and lack of awareness about occurring in other anatomical sites. Seven its risk factors play vital role in increasing incidence of were used for knowledge score, 10 for awareness score oral cancer.[1,3] The aim of this study was to assess the and one for source of information. The among the patients visiting Kantipur Dental College. Lack of knowledge and awareness about oral cancer, its risk factors and negligence of the early warning signs play crucial role in raising the incidence of the disease.The present study was carried out to evaluate the awareness of oral cancer among patients visiting Kantipur Dental College, Kathmandu, Nepal
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
