Oral cancer awareness in patients attending university dental clinics: a scoping review of Australian studies

Ramamurthy, Poornima, Sharma, Dileep, and Thomson, Peter (2022) Oral cancer awareness in patients attending university dental clinics: a scoping review of Australian studies. Australian Dental Journal, 67 (1). pp. 5-11.

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Abstract

This scoping review was conducted to evaluate the important role Australian university-based dental teaching clinics and dental students may have in promoting oral cancer awareness in their patients. Four Online database (PubMed, OVID, Scopus and Emcare) were searched for studies that assessed oral cancer awareness amongst patients attending Australian university-associated (teaching) clinics. A total of five articles were retrieved for full-text analysis. All studies showed significant variation in patient awareness and understanding regarding the principal risk factors associated with oral cancer development. Smoking was predominantly identified as a significant risk factor, but alcohol consumption was less frequently recognised as relevant. Non-healing ulceration was most commonly identified as a symptom of concern, whilst red and/or white mucosal patches were infrequently recognised as potentially-malignant conditions. Our review confirms that a significant lack of patient awareness regarding oral cancer risk and the signs /symptoms of early malignancy or potentially malignant disease exist in patients attending dental teaching clinics. Important opportunities exist to involve dental students proactively in raising oral cancer awareness, delivering smoking cessation interventions and safe alcohol consumption advice to their patients. Incorporation of established health educational models may deliver effective support for such student-delivered patient education.

Item ID: 69450
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1834-7819
Keywords: Oral Cancer, awareness, knowledge, attitude, health education
Date Deposited: 27 Sep 2021 23:06
FoR Codes: 32 BIOMEDICAL AND CLINICAL SCIENCES > 3203 Dentistry > 320307 Oral medicine and pathology @ 50%
32 BIOMEDICAL AND CLINICAL SCIENCES > 3211 Oncology and carcinogenesis > 321199 Oncology and carcinogenesis not elsewhere classified @ 50%
SEO Codes: 20 HEALTH > 2004 Public health (excl. specific population health) > 200402 Dental health @ 50%
20 HEALTH > 2001 Clinical health > 200104 Prevention of human diseases and conditions @ 50%
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