Immediate knowledge increase from an oral cancer information leaflet in patients attending a primary health care facility: a randomised controlled trial.
The aim was to determine the immediate influence of a validated patient information leaflet (PIL) on oral cancer and knowledge in primary care attenders. Participants were patients (n=800) attending their primary health care provider from 14 general practices (eight dental and six medical) in the north west of England. Measures were a previously validated knowledge questionnaire (36 dichotomous items), self-reported dental service attendance history and demographic variables. The results showed that patients who had read the oral cancer PIL demonstrated a significant increase in knowledge regardless of clinical setting (F[1,739]=246.24, P<0.0001). Patients showed improvements in selecting the correct signs and risk factors associated with disease. Immediate knowledge gain from a simple PIL about oral cancer was found and independent of the primary care facility, where the PIL was distributed.
Humphris
G M
GM
Department of Clinical Psychology, School of Health Sciences, Whelan Building, The University of Liverpool, L69 3GB, Liverpool, UK. cpsy1@liverpool.ac.uk
Ireland
R S
RS
Field
E A
EA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003149:Community Dentistry; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010174:Pamphlets; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors