Oral Cancer Awareness and Perception of Tobacco Use Cessation Counseling among Dental Students in Four Asian Countries

Abstract

Background: The scientific evidence relating to the burden of oral diseases attributable to tobacco use has been reviewed and the need for a well-structured dental teaching program concentrating on oral cancer education and tobacco cessation interventions has been emphasized. The aim of our study was to evaluate the awareness of oral cancer and perception of tobacco use cessation counseling among dental students at all study levels in India, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. Materials and Methods: A structured, pre-tested, self-administered 15-item questionnaire was used to conduct a cross-sectional survey. Data analyses including percentages, frequency distributions and tests of chi-square were generated. Results: A total of 621 (97.6%) Indian, 493 (96.5%) Saudi, 194 (96.5%) Yemeni and 187 (98.4%) United Arab Emirates respondents recognized the association between oral cancer and cigarette smoking. Although more than 96% of the students surveyed recognized the association between oral cancer and cigarette smoking and about 55% reported cigarette smoking as one of the etiological factors of oral cancer, more than 66% of students who reported cigarette smoking as an etiological factor of oral cancer disagreed/strongly disagreed with all the statements concerning tobacco use cessation. Conclusions: A higher level of oral cancer awareness did not have a positive impact on the perception of tobacco use cessation counseling among the sample surveyed.

Prevalence of Potentially Malignant Oral Mucosal Lesions among Tobacco Users in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

“…Furthermore suspicious lesions were positively related to lower levels of education (primary and intermediate) and the lowest income category (< 3000 SR/month) indicating that socio-economic factors may contribute to unhealthy lifestyles, using tobacco, and poor hygienic habits, which promote the occurrence of such lesions, and these factors were also reported in other studies (Shankar et al, 2010;Sujatha et al, 2012). This was further documented by the association of suspicious lesion with participants who reported to rarely brush their teeth Suspicious lesions were also positively related to Asian nationality and this may be explained by the high prevalence of tobacco chewing habits among Indians in the various ethnic groups as well as urban and rural inhabitants (Reddy and Shaik, 2008;Halawany, et al, 2013). Other studies also reported the prevalence of leukoplakia and other white lesions among elderly Chinese (22), and among selected Cambodian and Vietnamese populations (Ikeda, et al, 1995;Nair, et al, 1996).…”

Oral Cancer Knowledge of Senior Dental Students in Zahedan, South-East of Iran

“…Rahman et al (2013) showed an apparent lack of knowledge of oral cancer risk factors among dental students that may later result in a deficiency in integrating optimal oral cancer diagnostic procedures in their practices. Since tobacco use is a risk factor for oral cancer, Halawany et al (2013), showed that although more than 96% of the students surveyed recognized the association between oral cancer and cigarette smoking but tobacco use cessation counseling perception of students was poor.…”

Effectiveness of an Intervention Program on Knowledge of Oral Cancer among the Youth of Jazan, Saudi Arabia

“…Efforts are required for the early detection and primary prevention of oral cancer among the community by the means of a variety of outreach programs related to education and awareness of oral cancer. Dental students may be particularly important in this context (Halawany et al, 2013).…”