Assessment of Knowledge of and Attitude Toward Oral Cancer Among the Outpatient Population in a Tertiary Care Rural Hospital

Abstract

Introduction Lack of knowledge and awareness about oral cancer and its risk factors and negligence of the early warning signs play a crucial role in raising the incidence of the disease. Therefore, the aim of this present study is to assess the awareness of oral cancer among the local population regarding the prevalence, etiology, early signs of oral cancer, and treatment options available for the same. Materials and methods The study was approved by the institutional ethics committee. A cross-sectional study was done on 158 patients from 15-70 years. The questionnaire comprised closed-ended questions to assess the subject’s awareness, knowledge, and attitude toward the prevalence, causative factors, early signs that suggest oral cancer, and treatment options available for oral cancer. Results The study population consisted of 61% females and 39% males; the participants were aged between 15 and 70 years and the majority of them belonged to the 46-60-year age group (39.2%). Most of the participants (46%) had completed secondary education. Thirty-two point nine percent (32.9%) had not heard about oral cancer, 43.7% considered tobacco chewing and smoking risk factors, but only 25.8% were aware of early signs of oral cancer. Individuals who were unaware of oral cancer were educated. Conclusion This is a simple method to understand the participants' knowledge of oral cancer and its risk factors. Based on the results, we can identify the populations that are unaware of oral cancer, and they can be educated regarding early screening, prevention, and control.