12. Comparison of Awareness and Knowledge of Oral Cancer Among Medical and Dental Undergraduate Students in Bacha Khan Medical College, Mardan
Muhammad Naeem1, Shakeel Anwar2 and Munib Muhammad3
ABSTRACT
Objective: The aim of the study was to compare the awareness and knowledge of oral cancer among medical and dental undergraduate students in Bacha Khan Medical College, Mardan.
Study Design: Cross sectional study
Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Community and Preventive Dentistry, Dental Section, Bacha Khan Medical college, Mardan from January 2017 to December 2017.
Materials and Methods: The cross-sectional survey was performed among final year dental and medical students, house officers of BDS and MBBS. The pre-structured questionnaire about ways of improving prevention, early detection and referral of oral cancer patients was circulated among 120 participants. These questions were paying attention on familiarity of the main risk factors and treatment options of oral cancer. The analysis of collected data were done using SPSS version 20.0. Descriptive statistics were calculated. Pearson Chi- square (χ2) test was applied to compare the responses of oral cancer among the four categories of participants. P-value less 0.05 was considered.
Results: The mean age of the sample was 24.208±1.083 years. In final year group(both BDS and MBBS) females were than males while the results were opposite for house offices groups. Less than half of the participants (46.67%) were routinely examined oral mucosa. Majorities of the participants reported that they had insufficient knowledge. The final year BDS student were statistically more awared than final year MBBS students about oral cancer (P<0.005) except changes within the mouth would they associate with oral cancer, cancer consultation, and an opportunity to examine patients with oral lesions. Similarly, house officers of dentistry were aware than medical about oral cancer (P<0.05).
Conclusion: This study stress for the need to improve the curriculum and clinical training in oral cancer of dental and medical institutes of our country.
Key Words: Oral cancer, knowledge, undergraduate, medical students, dental students
Citation of articles: Naeem M, Anwar S, Muhammad M. Comparison of Awareness and Knowledge of Oral Cancer Among Medical and Dental Undergraduate Students in Bacha Khan Medical College, Mardan. Med Forum 2018;29(9):49-53.