Factors affecting oral cancer awareness in a high-risk population in India

To evaluate the awareness of oral cancer, its risk factors and to estimate the prevalence of risk factors in a high-risk semi-urban population in India.

A questionnaire-based survey was carried out by house-to-house interview on a single day by 120 health volunteers. The data were analyzed using SPSS 11.0 software for links between prevalence of risk factors and oral cancer awareness, as well as other confounding variables.

A total of 1885 persons participated in the survey. Of the surveyed population, 86% had heard about oral cancer and 32% knew someone with oral cancer. Sixty-two percent of the subjects correctly identified the causes; this included 77% of the subjects who identifying smoking, 64% alcohol and 79% pan chewing as a cause of oral cancer. More than 42% believed that poor oral health could lead to oral cancer and 53% thought that oral cancer is an incurable disease. Forty percent of males and 14% females had one or more high-risk habits. It was observed that the awareness was proportional to the education level (p<0.001) and inversely proportional to the prevalence of risk factor habits (p<0.001). Eighty-two percent of the smokers, 75% of the tobacco chewers and 66% of those who consumed alcohol were aware that their habits could lead to oral cancer.

Overall, the awareness of oral cancer in this high-risk population was satisfactory, though certain gaps exist, pointing to a need for targeted health education and risk factor cessation counseling.