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Maryland dental hygienists' knowledge and opinions of oral cancer risk factors and diagnostic procedures
Author(s) -
Syme SE,
Drury TF,
Horowitz AM
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
oral diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.953
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1601-0825
pISSN - 1354-523X
DOI - 10.1034/j.1601-0825.2001.70307.x
Subject(s) - medicine , leukoplakia , family medicine , cancer , logistic regression , dentistry , oral hygiene , risk factor , environmental health
OBJECTIVES: To examine Maryland dental hygienists' (DHs) knowledge of oral cancer risk factors and diagnostic procedures, as well as opinions about the currency and adequacy of their oral cancer knowledge, educational preparation, interest in, and preferred types of, continuing education courses. METHODS: Seven hundred DHs were randomly selected from a registry of 2677 Maryland licensed dental hygienists. A mailed survey instrument provided baseline data on 331 (RR = 60%) DHs. Stratified tabular and logistic analytical techniques were employed (alpha level ≤0.05). RESULTS: Most correctly identified tobacco use (99.7%) and alcohol use (89%) as risk factors; however, 31% incorrectly identified poor oral hygiene as a risk factor. 64% of DHs correctly identified older age as a risk factor, yet only 16% identified that the majority of oral cancers are diagnosed in the 60+ year old age group. Nearly 91% correctly identified the examination procedures of the tongue for oral cancer detection; while only 16% of DHs correctly identified erythroplakia and leukoplakia as the conditions most likely associated with oral cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Gaps in knowledge exist and strongly suggest the need for continuing education courses to clarify risk factors and diagnostic procedures associated with earlier oral cancer detection and prevention.