Factors associated with early-stage diagnosis of oral and pharyngeal cancer

• Published in: Community dentistry and oral epidemiology 2009-08, Vol.37 (4), p.333-341
• Main Authors: Watson, Jennifer M., Logan, Henrietta L., Tomar, Scott L., Sandow, Pamela
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Chi-Square Distribution; Dental care; Dentistry; Diagnosis, Oral - statistics & numerical data; disparities; Early Diagnosis; Family Practice - statistics & numerical data; Female; Florida - epidemiology; Head & neck cancer; Health Services Accessibility; Health services utilization; Humans; Interviews as Topic; Male; Medical diagnosis; Middle Aged; Mouth Neoplasms - diagnosis; Mouth Neoplasms - pathology; Neoplasm Staging; oral pathology; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Pharyngeal Neoplasms - diagnosis; Pharyngeal Neoplasms - pathology; Polls & surveys; public health; quality of care; Smoking - epidemiology; Surveys and Questionnaires; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
• ISSN: 0301-5661; 1600-0528
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0528.2009.00470.x

–  Objectives:  The objective of this study was to examine the characteristics and treatment‐seeking behaviors of patients diagnosed with oral and pharyngeal cancer (OPC) and to determine whether seeing an oral healthcare provider in the preceding year was associated with an earlier stage of diagnosis. Methods:  Trained interviewers administered a pretested survey instrument to a sample of 131 patients newly diagnosed with OPC at two cancer centers in Florida. Analyses were conducted to compare characteristics of patients by cancer summary stage (early or advanced) on receipt of OPC examination, patterns of dental care, and number of initial signs and symptoms. In addition, analyses were also conducted for characteristics of patients’ dental care utilization (regular primary care dentist, time of most recent dental visit, and regular dental care) by receipt of OPC examination. Results:  Overall, 25.3% of participants reported receiving an OPC examination at their last dental visit and participants who received an OPC examination were significantly more likely (79%) to be diagnosed at early stages than those who did not receive an oral cancer examination (48%). Patients with a regular primary care dentist were more likely to be diagnosed at early stages (65%) than those without a regular primary care dentist (41%). Factors significantly associated with receiving an OPC examination included having a regular primary care dentist (P