ASSESSMENT OF GENERAL AWARENESS AND KNOWLEDGE OF ORAL CANCER IN TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN KANCHIPURAM

Abstract

Oral cancer is a most prevalent cancer, early diagnosis of which greatly increases the probability of cure and survival rates. Lack of public awareness had been considered to be a potent barrier for early detection of cancer. Hence, the present study was carried out to ascertain general awareness, knowledge of risk factors, symptoms and physcological factors association among oral cancer subjects. A questionnaire based study was carried out by direct interview. Chi-square and Students t-test were used for statistical analysis at p<0.05 significance. A total of 198 subjects were participated in the study, male subjects were predominates a female group in 2:1 ratio. We found a positive association of increasing age and knowledge of risk factor (p< 0.05). Among both gender, 62.1% of subjects were in middle age of 40-59 years of age groups. In our study, 76.5% subjects had awareness about oral cancer, 50.06% had knowledge of risk factors and 27.27% had knowledge of clinical sign and symptoms. A total of 62% subjects from lower socioeconomic classes and those had psychological thought of fear, carelessness and medical mistrust due to illiteracy. The socioeconomic status exists significant association with psychological factors at p<0.05. However, though the subjects aware of oral cancer still the incidences increases. Hence, the study suggested that need more structured awareness programs such as television, newspaper and radio advertisements in addition to posters and leaflets about the early signs, symptoms and etiology of oral cancer.