The awareness of oral cancer in adult patients attending School of Dental Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia: a preliminary study

OBJECTIVE: Lack of awareness of signs and symptoms and risk factors of oral cancer can lead to late presentation of the disease that contributes to poor survival of patients who contract it. This study aims to determine the level of awareness regarding oral cancer in adult patients attending School of Dental Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study in which face-to-face interview of 108 subjects aged 20-65 was conducted. The questionnaire consisted of personnel details and questions regarding awareness of risk factors, complications, signs and symptoms, and prevention of oral cancer. Each response was assigned scores where one (1) mark was given for a correct answer and one (1) mark was subtracted for every wrong answer. The scores were added up to obtain total individual score. RESULTS: Majority of the patients interviewed were from the age range of 20-29. Most of the respondents were Malays with females having a higher percentage (52.8%) than males (47.2%). Majority of the patients (89.9%) were aware regarding the presence of the oral cancer. However, there was no significant association of age range and gender (p > 0.05). 96.7% of subjects who have had higher education were significantly more aware about the presence of oral cancer when compared to those without any schooling (p < 0.05). There was a high awareness of the link between smoking, tobacco chewing, betel nut chewing, and alcohol (93.5%, 85.2%, 75.9%, and 68.5%, respectively) with oral cancer. Almost three-fourth (73%) scored between 10 and 19 out of the maximum of 23 with the mean score of 13.4 (standard deviation, 4.37). All our subjects agreed that early detection of oral cancer could improve chances of successfully treating them. CONCLUSION: There was a moderate level of awareness regarding oral cancer towards its risk factors, complications, signs and symptoms, and prevention of oral cancer.