An outreach cancer education program: a model for continuing education in the dental office

During the period 1970-1973, only 2.5 percent of the dentists practicing in Kentucky attended cancer continuing education courses offered by the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry. In the fall of 1973 a different approach to cancer education was launched: Learn about Oral Cancer in Your Office. Self-instructional materials, developed in the College of Dentistry, were taken to the dentist's office on an appointment basis. This method had great appeal and significantly increased the number of dentists involved in cancer continuing education. Other positive results of this approach were a greater awareness on the part of the dentist of his role in cancer detection, a desire amont the participants to alter the pattern of practice to include cancer detection techniques, and exposure of dental auxiliary personnel to cancer education material.