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Compliance following referral in the early detection of oral cancer and precancer in Sri Lanka
Author(s) -
Warnakulasuriya Saman,
Ekanayake Asoka,
Stjernsward Jan,
Pindborg Jens J.,
Sivayoham Sabapathy
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
community dentistry and oral epidemiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.061
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1600-0528
pISSN - 0301-5661
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0528.1988.tb00575.x
Subject(s) - medicine , referral , sri lanka , context (archaeology) , compliance (psychology) , family medicine , cancer , primary care , psychology , paleontology , social psychology , ethnology , south asia , biology , history
An innovative approach for the early detection of oral cancer and precancer within the context of the primary health care system has been field tested in Sri Lanka. The overall compliance in accepting this particular PHC approach for cancer screening, as estimated by arrival at a referral centre manned by consultant staff, was 54.1%. Nearly 80% of those who turned up without needing an additional reminder, did so within the first 2 weeks of case finding. There was a variation in the degree of compliance depending on the primary health care worker who did the screening and referral. Compliance was greater when the screening area was nearer to the referral centre and in subjects who were diagnosed as having a more advanced stage of the disease. Certain practical considerations that contributed to noncompliance were identified. Postal reminders were seen to increase overall compliance by 10.9%.