Oral cancer awareness and knowledge among patients attending an oncological screening program in Portugal

The aim of this study was to evaluate the awareness and knowledge about oral cancer in a Portuguese population and to assess its possible relations with sociodemographic variables.

A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted, with 2650 individuals that attended oncological screening initiatives in the southern region of Portugal. The questionnaire collected data on participants' socio-demographic information, life-style habits, and awareness of oral cancer.

Over four-fifths of the participants (83.4%) mentioned that had already heard about oral cancer. Knowledge of oral cancer was significantly associated with age (p = 0.034), education level (p < 0.001), frequency of dentist visits (p < 0.001), and smoking (p = 0.015) and alcohol habits (p = 0.031). Regarding risk factors, smoking and alcohol usage were identified by 86% and 58.5% of the sample, respectively. Only 62.8%, 45.5%, and 37.9%, respectively, were able to correctly identify ulcers that don't heal, red and white lesions, and lumps/tissue that overgrows as early signs of oral cancer.

A general lack of awareness regarding oral cancer was found in this Portuguese population. Lower levels of knowledge were found in individuals of higher risk for oral cancer. Therefore, educational programs targeting the risk population are highly recommended for the primary prevention and early diagnosis of oral cancer in the Portuguese population.