Knowledge of oral cancer and screening practice of B.Sc. nursing students in Davangere City, India

Abstract

Background: Oral cancer mainly affects individuals in the 6 th and 7 th decades of life with a history of risk factors like, smoking, tobacco chewing and alcohol consump tion. Early recognition and referral is essential for higher cure rates and better quality of life. Nursing staff provides the oral health care for patients in hospital. Admission to hospital provides a ''window of opportunity'' for oral cancer screening via an oral health checkup during nursing care. Objective: To measure awareness of risk factors, clinical signs and screening service for oral cancer among nursing students. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted in two Nursing Colleges of Davangere city. The questionnaire consisted of 17 closed ended questions. The questionnaire was pre-tested and validated before administering. Results: Among 300 nursing students, 231 were females and 69 were males. Over 90% thought oral health checkups were important although only 69% performed oral examination regularly; approximately 90% identifi ed smoking and use of tobacco products as a risk factor but very few identifi ed other associated factors like alcohol. Only 55% of the respondents were aware about the most common site of occurrence of oral cancer. Only 49% recognized a non healing ulcer as a sign of oral cancer. Over 90% of the students felt that a nursing student needs more education about screening for oral cancer and were willing to participate in a network to promote early screening for oral cancer. Conclusion: This study revealed that nurses' awareness of oral cancer risk factors and clinical signs, in the group under study was, however, poor. This study highlights a need for improved education of nurses on oral cancer to make the oral health checkup on admission viable for oral cancer screening.

Assessment of awareness of oral cancer among nursing students at BPKIHS, Nepal

“…Prevention has long been a part of nursing's scope of practice and therefore nurses can support individuals and communities in the prevention and early detection of oral cancer. 14 13 Almost all students (96.6%) were aware of tobacco, pan, gutkha, pan-masala, khaini as risk factors of oral cancer. The finding was in consistent to the study by Mittal et al 13 Smoking and alcohol are considered major risk factors and are present in 90% of cases of oral cancers.…”

“…14 13 Almost all students (96.6%) were aware of tobacco, pan, gutkha, pan-masala, khaini as risk factors of oral cancer. The finding was in consistent to the study by Mittal et al 13 Smoking and alcohol are considered major risk factors and are present in 90% of cases of oral cancers. 15 The risk for developing oral cancer is three times higher in smokers compared with nonsmokers.…”

“…Similar findings were also reported in another study. 13 HPV causes squamous cell carcinoma of tonsils and base of the tongue within the oropharynx. HPV contributes to carcinogenesis by two virus-encoded proteins (E6 and E7) that promote the degradation of p53 and Rb tumour suppressor gene product.…”

“…The sample size was calculated for a finite study population of 130 with a reference to the finding of a study in which 55% of the respondents were aware of the most common site of occurrence of oral cancer. 13 With a prevalence of 55%, permissible error of 10% at 95% confidence interval and 80% power and adding 10% as non-responder, the final sample size was 99. Convenience sampling method was used.…”

Oral Cancer Awareness Among Medical & Dental Students of Bahria University Medical and Dental College

“…There are many pre malignant oral conditions, like leukoplakia, erythroplakia and oral submucous fibrosis. 6,7 The most commonly affected sites involving the mouth are the floor and the lateral border of the tongue. 8 In American and European countries, drinking alcohol and smoking tobacco are documented as the causative agents for oral cancer 9 but within developing Asian countries the main carcinogenic influence are betel nut, areca nut and other addictives.…”