Awareness and Knowledge Level of Oral Cancer Among Patients Visiting The Dentist

Elifhan Alagöz; Nilüfer Karaçay; İrfan Sarıca

Makale detayları

Awareness and Knowledge Level of Oral Cancer Among Patients Visiting The Dentist

Yazarlar:

Elifhan Alagöz | Nilüfer Karaçay | İrfan Sarıca

Yayıncı:

Necmettin Erbakan University

Ana Başlıklar:

Ağız | Diş ve Çene Radyolojisi

Dergi:

Necmettin Erbakan Üniversitesi Diş Hekimliği Dergisi Vol.7 Issue 2, pp.231-244

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

8/2025

Belge Dili:

İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.):

2001357357

pISSN:

2687-5535

Anahtar kelimeler:

Özet:

 Aim: Oral cancers are a significant global health concern. The aim of this study is to investigate the level of awareness and knowledge about oral cancers, their risk factors, and early signs among patients attending dental examinations. This research aims to determine the current level of awareness about oral cancers and to identify gaps in knowledge in this area. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional survey was conducted among patients aged 18 and above attending the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology. The survey included a total of 750 participants and covered demographic information, smoking and alcohol habits, awareness of oral cancers, knowledge of early symptoms of oral cancer, and awareness of associated risk factors. Results: The participants consist of 63.7 females and 36.3 males. The smoking rate is 31.2, and alcohol consumption is 14.4. 53.4 of participants lack awareness of oral cancer; among those aware, 21.6 cite media sources and 4.4 cite dentists as their information sources. Despite smoking 70.4 and alcohol consumption 56.7 being well-known risk factors, awareness regarding sun exposure 22.7 and aging 41.2 is lower. Moreover, knowledge about early symptoms of oral cancer such as non-healing ulcers 40.3, red sores 31.1, white plaques 24, and persistent swellings 31.5 is also low. Conclusion: This study shows that awareness about oral cancers is low among patients visiting dentists. Consistent with our findings, media usage in this context can be an effective way to increase awareness, while regular dental check-ups can also play a role in enhancing awareness.

 Aim: Oral cancers are a significant global health concern. The aim of this study is to investigate the level of awareness and knowledge about oral cancers, their risk factors, and early signs among patients attending dental examinations. This research aims to determine the current level of awareness about oral cancers and to identify gaps in knowledge in this area. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional survey was conducted among patients aged 18 and above attending the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology. The survey included a total of 750 participants and covered demographic information, smoking and alcohol habits, awareness of oral cancers, knowledge of early symptoms of oral cancer, and awareness of associated risk factors. Results: The participants consist of 63.7 females and 36.3 males. The smoking rate is 31.2, and alcohol consumption is 14.4. 53.4 of participants lack awareness of oral cancer; among those aware, 21.6 cite media sources and 4.4 cite dentists as their information sources. Despite smoking 70.4 and alcohol consumption 56.7 being well-known risk factors, awareness regarding sun exposure 22.7 and aging 41.2 is lower. Moreover, knowledge about early symptoms of oral cancer such as non-healing ulcers 40.3, red sores 31.1, white plaques 24, and persistent swellings 31.5 is also low. Conclusion: This study shows that awareness about oral cancers is low among patients visiting dentists. Consistent with our findings, media usage in this context can be an effective way to increase awareness, while regular dental check-ups can also play a role in enhancing awareness.

 Aim: Oral cancers are a significant global health concern. The aim of this study is to investigate the level of awareness and knowledge about oral cancers, their risk factors, and early signs among patients attending dental examinations. This research aims to determine the current level of awareness about oral cancers and to identify gaps in knowledge in this area. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional survey was conducted among patients aged 18 and above attending the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology. The survey included a total of 750 participants and covered demographic information, smoking and alcohol habits, awareness of oral cancers, knowledge of early symptoms of oral cancer, and awareness of associated risk factors. Results: The participants consist of 63.7 females and 36.3 males. The smoking rate is 31.2, and alcohol consumption is 14.4. 53.4 of participants lack awareness of oral cancer; among those aware, 21.6 cite media sources and 4.4 cite dentists as their information sources. Despite smoking 70.4 and alcohol consumption 56.7 being well-known risk factors, awareness regarding sun exposure 22.7 and aging 41.2 is lower. Moreover, knowledge about early symptoms of oral cancer such as non-healing ulcers 40.3, red sores 31.1, white plaques 24, and persistent swellings 31.5 is also low. Conclusion: This study shows that awareness about oral cancers is low among patients visiting dentists. Consistent with our findings, media usage in this context can be an effective way to increase awareness, while regular dental check-ups can also play a role in enhancing awareness.

 Amaç: Ağız kanserleri önemli bir küresel sağlık sorunudur. Bu çalışmanın amacı, diş muayenesi için başvuran hastaların oral kanserler, risk faktörleri ve erken belirtiler hakkındaki farkındalık ve bilgi düzeylerini araştırmaktır. Bu araştırma, ağız kanserleri konusunda mevcut farkındalık seviyesini belirleyerek bu konudaki bilgi açığını ortaya koymayı hedeflemektedir. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Bu kesitsel anket, Ağız Diş ve Çene Radyolojisi Anabilim Dalına başvuran 18 yaş ve üzeri hastalar arasında uygulanmıştır. Toplamda 750 katılımcının yer aldığı anket; demografik bilgileri, sigara içme ve alkol alışkanlıklarını, ağız kanserlerinin farkındalığını, ağız kanserinin erken belirtileri hakkındaki bilgiyi ve ilişkili risk faktörlerine yönelik farkındalığı kapsamaktadır. Bulgular: Katılımcıların 63,7si kadın, 36,3si erkektir. Sigara kullanım oranı 31,2, alkol kullanımı ise 14,4 olarak tespit edilmiştir. Katılımcıların 53,4ünde oral kanser farkındalığı bulunmamaktadır; farkındalığı olanların 21,6sı medya kaynaklarını, 4,4ü ise diş hekimlerini bilgi kaynağı olarak belirtmiştir. Sigara içme 70,4 ve alkol tüketimi 56,7, iyi bilinen risk faktörleri olmasına rağmen, güneş ışığına maruz kalma 22,7 ve yaşlılık 41,2 hakkındaki farkındalık daha düşüktür. Ayrıca, ağız kanserinin erken belirtileri olan iyileşmeyen ülserler 40,3, kırmızı yaralar 31,1, beyaz plaklar 24, uzun süre devam eden şişlikler 31,5 konusunda da bilgi düzeyi düşüktür. Sonuç: Bu çalışma, diş hekimlerine başvuran hastalarda oral kanserlerle ilgili farkındalığın düşük olduğunu göstermektedir. Bulgularımız doğrultusunda, medya kullanımı farkındalık artırmada etkili bir yöntem olabilir; ayrıca düzenli diş hekimi kontrolleri de bu farkındalığı artırmada önemli bir rol oynayabilir.

Makale detayları

Awareness and Knowledge Level of Oral Cancer Among Patients Visiting The Dentist

Yazarlar:

Elifhan Alagöz | Nilüfer Karaçay | İrfan Sarıca

Yayıncı:

Necmettin Erbakan University

Ana Başlıklar:

Ağız | Diş ve Çene Radyolojisi

Dergi:

Necmettin Erbakan Üniversitesi Diş Hekimliği Dergisi Vol.7 Issue 2, pp.231-244

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

8/2025

Belge Dili:

İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.):

2001357357

pISSN:

2687-5535

Oral cancers

Dental examination

Awareness level

Risk factors

Early symptoms.Ağız kanserleri

Kesitsel çalışmalar

Farkındalık düzeyi

Risk faktörleri

Erken belirtiler

Sayı

Makale detayları

Yazarlar: Elifhan Alagöz | Nilüfer Karaçay | İrfan Sarıca

Yayıncı: Necmettin Erbakan University

Ana Başlıklar: Ağız | Diş ve Çene Radyolojisi

Dergi: Necmettin Erbakan Üniversitesi Diş Hekimliği Dergisi Vol.7 Issue 2, pp.231-244

Belge Tipi: Makale

Yayın Tarihi: 8/2025

Belge Dili: İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.): 2001357357

pISSN: 2687-5535

Sayı

Yazarlar:

Elifhan Alagöz | Nilüfer Karaçay | İrfan Sarıca

Yayıncı:

Necmettin Erbakan University

Ana Başlıklar:

Ağız | Diş ve Çene Radyolojisi

Dergi:

Necmettin Erbakan Üniversitesi Diş Hekimliği Dergisi Vol.7 Issue 2, pp.231-244

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

8/2025

Belge Dili:

İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.):

2001357357

pISSN:

2687-5535