Abstract

Background: Oral cancer, ranked among the top three cancers in India, is associated with low survival and significant mortality rates. Early diagnosis makes the treatment more amenable, increases the chance of cure as well as the quality of life. Lack of awareness about oral cancer among medical professional and patients is the probable reason behind the delay in referrals and treatment. Hence, it is indispensable to assess and improve the awareness of oral cancer. To evaluate the oral cancer awareness among dental students and patients Materials and Methods: The present cross-sectional survey was conducted among patients (n = 50) with pre-malignant lesions of oral cancer and dental students (n = 50). Sociodemographic characteristics including clinical and behavioural characteristics of all the patients as well as age and gender of all the dental students were recorded. A 10-item close-ended questionnaire was used to gauge patients’ awareness and structured 5-item open-ended and close-ended questionnaires were distributed to dental students to assess their theoretical and practical knowledge. Data were analysed using Chi-square test, Mann – Whitney U test, Fischer test, and multivariate regression analysis. Results: Almost 84% of the patients had heard about oral cancer. None of the factors (sociodemographic, clinical, and behavioural characteristics) were significantly associated with oral cancer knowledge. Alcohol consumption and financial burden significantly influenced knowledge of oral cancer among patients. Almost 78 % of the students routinely examined the oral mucosa of the patients. Age of the student significantly affected the theoretical knowledge score of oral cancer, whereas age and gender did not significantly affect the practical knowledge.

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