Prevalence and Factors Associated With Oral Cavity and Pharyngeal Cancer Screening in a Rural Population

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Oral cavity and pharyngeal cancer (OCPC) poses a significant health burden.
• Screening is crucial for early detection and improved patient outcomes.
• Understanding screening prevalence and associated factors is vital for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of provider recommendation and receipt of OCPC screening.
• To identify factors associated with OCPC screening recommendation and receipt in adults.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study conducted in rural Illinois.
• Data collected from 145 adults between January and June 2017.
• Multivariable logistic regression analyzed associations between risk factors and screening.

Main Results:

• Low prevalence of OCPC screening recommendation (12.4%) and receipt (28.3%).
• Higher odds of OCPC screening receipt associated with having ≥5 lifetime sexual partners (aOR, 3.10).
• No significant associations found for smoking, alcohol consumption, or other risk factors with screening recommendation or receipt.

Conclusions:

• OCPC screening rates and recommendations are alarmingly low in this rural population.
• Increased lifetime sexual partners is a key factor associated with OCPC screening receipt.
• Interventions are needed to improve OCPC screening rates and reduce late-stage diagnoses in rural areas.