title: Awareness and knowledge of oral cancer among university students in Malaysia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to assess the level of knowledge of oral cancer and its associated factors among university students in Malaysia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross sectional study was conducted among 200 university students in Malaysia. A self administered questionnaire was used to collect data. It included questions on socio- demographic data, awareness and knowledge of oral cancer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean age of the respondents was 21.5 ± 2.5 and the age ranged from 18 to 27 years. The majority of the respondents were aware of oral cancer (92.0%) and recognized the followings as signs and symptoms of oral cancer: ulcer and oral bleeding (71.0%), followed by swelling (61.5%). A satisfactory knowledge was observed on the following risk factors; smoking (95.5%), poor oral hygiene (90.5%), family history (90.0%), alcohol (84.5%) and poor fitting dentures (83.0%). However, unsatisfactory knowledge was observed about hot/spicy food (46.5%), obesity (36.0%), old age (31.5%), dietary factor (29.0%) and smokeless tobacco (25.5%). Knowledge of oral cancer was associated significantly with age (p<0.01), year of study (p<0.01) and course of study (p<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Instead of satisfactory awareness and knowledge of oral cancer and its clinical presentations, inadequate knowledge was observed about its risk factors. There is a need to introduce oral cancer education among university students.
authors.affiliation: International Medical School, Management and Science University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. samidobaie@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Sami Abdo Radman
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Al Dubai
authors.forename: Kurubaran
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ganasegeran
authors.forename: Aied M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Alabsi
authors.forename: Mustafa Ahmed
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Alshagga
authors.forename: Riyadh Saif
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Ali
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001364:Awareness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult