Smokers and drinkers awareness of oral cancer: a qualitative study using focus groups
1Department of Child Dental Health, Dental School, Newcastle upon Tyne.
Objective:
To examine the perceptions and understanding of oral cancer among older male drinkers and smokers in the north east of England.
Design:
Qualitative research using focus group discussions led by an experienced moderator.
Setting:
Residents of the north east of England in their community.
Subjects:
Male alcohol drinkers and tobacco smokers over the age of 44 years and by socio-economic grouping.
Results:
There is a lack of knowledge and understanding of the risk of oral cancer in this whole at-risk population sample. Even those who have direct contact with the disease profess ignorance. Information on health is perceived as confusing or distrusted. Much of this is linked to a fatalistic approach to serious illness.
Conclusions:
There appears to be a large information gap to bridge, and we need to further understand the target group for oral cancer health promotion; and to use that knowledge to design effective health promotion initiatives.
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