Perceptions of Hispanic American schoolchildren to the risk factors for oral cancer.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge of high schoolchildren on oral cancer risk factors in southern Texas.


METHODS
A 39-item, self-administered questionnaire was completed by 1,667 students (14-18 years) in 4 high schools chosen by stratified cluster sampling.


RESULTS
The effective response rate was 67%. Ninety-five percent of the students were Hispanic American, 55% had not heard about oral cancer, and 60% failed to identify the 2 most common early signs of oral cancer.


CONCLUSIONS
Lack of awareness of oral cancer risk factors indicate the need for improved health education directed towards minority population, especially in underprivileged areas.
Shetty
Kishore
K
Medically Complex Patient Clinic, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, Houston, TX, USA. Kishore.Shetty@uth.tmc.edu
Brown
John
J
D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013781:Texas