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ANALYSIS OF ORAL CANCER AWARENESS AMONG MEDICAL AND DENTAL STUDENTS IN PAKISTAN

Dr Saud Ahmed Cheema, Dr Sajida Ali, Dr Farwa Jamil Kanju

Introduction: Squamous cell carcinoma accounts for 95% of oral cancers and is associated with avoidable aetiological risk factors. Smoking tobacco and alcohol use are the main risk factors in the United Kingdom and are associated with approximately 75% of oral cancers. Aims and objectives: The main objective of the study is to analyze the oral cancer awareness among medical and dental students in Pakistan. Methodology: This cross sectional study was conducted in Punjab Dental Hospital, Lahore during January 2018 to October 2018. The data were collected from 500 medical and dental students from different medical colleges of Lahore. For this purpose the data were collected through a questionnaire from both genders. These students were selected as they had received teaching on oral diseases including oral cancer. Results: The mean knowledge percent of the entire population was 63.3± 19.4 (good knowledge). The average knowledge percent was higher in females (64.4±18.6) as compared to males (62.0±20.6) p-value =0.411. The mean knowledge percent was 58.3±19.0 in 3rd year, 65.1±19.6 in 4th year and 64.9±19.6 in 5th year, p-value =0.125. Only 51.1% of the subjects used to examine oral mucosa routinely. Conclusion: It is concluded that overall the mean knowledge of the population about oral cancers among medical undergraduate students was good. The knowledge was higher in females as compared to males but the difference was not significant.

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