title: Knowledge, opinions, and practices related to oral cancer: results of three elderly racial groups.
abstract: A study of 204 inner-city, senior center participants (ages ranged from 41-96 years) was conducted to assess their knowledge, opinions, and practices related to oral cancer. Participants were either White, African-American, or of Korean descent. The interview/questionnaire revealed this cohort to lack correct knowledge of the signs, symptoms, and risk factors of oral cancer, and to have had risk behaviors associated with oral cancer. Given that oral cancer is most frequently diagnosed in those aged 65 years and older, and that this cohort tends not to obtain routine preventive oral health care, it is imperative that these seniors be educated about the risks associated with oral cancer and their need for routine oral examinations.
authors.affiliation: University of Maryland-Baltimore College of Dental Surgery, Department of Oral Health Care Delivery 21201, USA.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Yellowitz
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Goodman
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Farooq
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001213:Asian / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015142:Baltimore / Q000453:epidemiology; D044383:Black People; D003752:Dental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data