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

Rehan Hamid, Muhammad Muneeb, Inam Basit Cheema

Abstract: Introduction: The incidence of oral cancer is increasing in the Pakistan. During the last decade of the 20thcentury there was 18% and 30% increase in oral cancer incidence in males and females respectively. Aims and objectives: The basic purpose of this study is to analyse the oral cancer awareness among medical and dental students in Pakistan. Material and methods: This cross sectional study was conducted in Dental Excellence, Faisalabad during September 2018 to January 2019. The data was collected from medical and dental students. The data was collected through a questionnaire which were designed for the analysis of knowledge of oral cancer awareness. The questionnaire comprised of questions on socio-demographic data, knowledge and awareness of oral cancer. Socio-demographic data included questions on age, gender, year of study, race, family history of oral cancer, monthly household income and residence. Results: The data was collected from 200 medical and dental students. 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. Conclusion: It is concluded that the role that general medical (and dental) practitioners may play in prevention and detection of oral cancer assumes ever more importance.

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