Oral cancer awareness in Spain: A pilot study

Objectives To investigate the level of oral cancer knowledge and awareness in a Spanish general population. Subjects and Methods A cross‐sectional study using an anonymous questionnaire applied in the community to randomly selected laypersons. Sample size for the general population was determined by...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Oral diseases 2018-03, Vol.24 (1-2), p.124-127
Main Authors: Varela‐Centelles, P, Estany‐Gestal, A, Bugarín‐González, R, Seoane‐Romero, JM
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
awareness
Cross-Sectional Studies
cross‐sectional
Dentistry
Female
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Health risk assessment
Humans
knowledge
Male
Middle Aged
Mouth Neoplasms - complications
Mouth Neoplasms - diagnosis
Oral cancer
Pilot Projects
Risk Factors
Smoking
Spain
survey
Surveys and Questionnaires
Tobacco smoking
Young Adult
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Objectives To investigate the level of oral cancer knowledge and awareness in a Spanish general population. Subjects and Methods A cross‐sectional study using an anonymous questionnaire applied in the community to randomly selected laypersons. Sample size for the general population was determined by quota sampling, resulting in 1,041 individuals. Results A total of 1,707 pedestrians were approached (response: 61%). When the participants were asked about what cancers had they heard about (up to ten), oral cancer was mentioned in first place by 2% of the sample and by 22% in any order. When specifically asked about oral cancer, the percentage of interviewees who were familiar with it raised to 72%. Participants were also asked about the main signs or symptoms of oral cancer, and the most frequently (22%) mentioned as the first warning sign was a non‐healing ulcer. Tobacco smoking generally was recognised as the most important (57%) risk factor for oral cancer. Conclusions This pilot study revealed a low awareness of oral cancer, and a poor knowledge of its signs and symptoms and risk factors.
ISSN:1354-523X
1601-0825
DOI:10.1111/odi.12756