Oral Cancer Screening among Smokers and Nonsmokers

Area of Science:

• Oral Health
• Oncology
• Public Health

Background:

• Early identification of oral cancer (OC) precursor lesions through visual systematic screening is crucial for reducing OC mortality.
• Patients with lifestyle risk factors, such as smoking, require targeted screening strategies.
• Understanding screening prevalence and demographic predictors is essential for developing effective public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of OC screening among smokers and nonsmokers in Kuwait.
• To identify demographic factors associated with OC screening uptake.
• To assess awareness of OC and its risk factors within the Kuwaiti population.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study utilizing a self-administered online survey in English and Arabic.
• Survey dissemination via WhatsApp, including questions on demographics, smoking status, and OC knowledge.
• Data analysis using SPSS version 24.0, employing logistic regression to identify predictors of screening.

Main Results:

• The study included 404 Kuwaiti respondents (77% nonsmokers, 23% smokers).
• Prevalence of OC screening was low: 7.2% among nonsmokers and 5.4% among smokers.
• Awareness of OC was poor (36.6%), with males and individuals aged 25-44 more likely to undergo screening.

Conclusions:

• There is a low prevalence of OC screening and poor awareness in the studied Kuwaiti population.
• Health professionals should enhance public awareness campaigns and integrate OC screening into routine oral examinations.
• Targeted interventions are needed to improve screening uptake, particularly among high-risk groups like smokers.