Patient awareness of oral cancer health advice in a dental access centre: a mixed methods study

In the United Kingdom in 2006, 5,325 persons were diagnosed with oral cancer; and in 2007 it caused around 1,850 deaths. The purpose of this study was to assess the patient awareness, in a dental access centre, of a poster and leaflet campaign providing information about smoking and excess alcohol consumption as risk factors in the development of oral cancer, and to explore dental patients' beliefs and perceptions about these risk factors.

Posters and leaflets providing information about risk factors for oral cancer were displayed in the patient waiting areas of a dental access centre. Data were collected prospectively in relation to the smoking and drinking habits of patients attending the centre. This information was used to categorise patients into one of four groups ranging from low to high consumption. During triage, patients were asked if they had read any of the information about oral cancer that was on display, and patients in the high risk groups were asked to participate in a semi-structured interview that would explore their knowledge about risk factors and their views on the delivery of healthcare messages in relation to oral cancer.

Data on risk status and exposure to the poster and leaflet campaign were collected for 1,161 patients attending during the study period. More than 50% of these patients were smokers, with 36% in the high or very high tobacco and alcohol use groups. Approximately 40% of patients within each consumption group had read any of the information available. Nine patients agreed to be interviewed and overall knowledge about risk factors for oral cancer, even after reading the information was poor.

Dental access centres attract a significant number of patients with lifestyle habits that make them vulnerable to oral cancer, and as such are well placed to deliver oral health messages to this high risk group. However, the delivery of information through a simple poster and leaflet campaign is likely to have limited impact.