Perception of Healthcare Practitioners of the Importance of Routine Oral-Cancer Screening

Abstract

Introduction: In recent times, both the incidence of and death rate from oral cancers (OC) have decreased significantly due to preventive measures, early detection techniques and enhanced knowledge of clinical signs and symptoms of the disease. Oral cancer is the 11th most common cancer in the world with approximately 389,000 new cases per year. In Saudi Arabia, it is the 3rd most diagnosed malignancy. A direct relationship between tobacco use and oral cancer has been established. The Saudi smoker population has been observed to consume over 80 million cigarettes annually. Smoking among the Saudi general population has reached 52.3%, which makes Saudi smokers high-risk patients of oral cancer. As tumors of the oral cavity arise on an accessible and partially visible epithelial surface, they should, in principle, be diagnosed early. However, many of these tumors are diagnosed only when they are at an advanced TNM stage, typically in late terminal stages. Purpose: This survey study determines the efficiency, effectiveness and awareness of dental practitioners in Riyadh of oral cancer, incorporation of routine screening for oral cancer in daily dental practice. With the increased rates of OC diagnosis in late stages, this study was designed to evaluate the healthcare practitioner’s knowledge towards OC and its causes in addition to preventive routine screening of OC. Materials and Methods: A survey of randomly selected dental practitioners in public and private clinics was used. Practitioners outside Riyadh city and students were excluded. Results were analyzed using SPSS version-19 software. Chi-square tests (Pearson) were used for analytical statistical figures and probability values; descriptive figures such as graphs were also used. Results: A total number of dentists contacted were 713 of which 500 responded. Around 50% of the respondents missed out on examining patients’ for oral mucosal surfaces fully, especially the ventral and lateral surfaces of the tongue and the floor of the mouth. Conclusion: Based on the results it was concluded that most dentists practicing in Riyadh fail to examine the patients routinely. Thus, it is advised that educating programs and awareness campaigns are to be implemented immediately, along with the facilitation of referral between dental departments and clinics.