title: Effect of Mouth Cancer Awareness Week on urgent suspected head and neck cancer referrals.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to find out whether Mouth Cancer Awareness Week and associated activities made any difference to the number of urgent or two-week urgent referrals to the oral and maxillofacial department at University Hospital, Aintree, whether they were appropriate, and the number of patients who were found to have cancer. A prospective audit over six months before, during, and after the awareness week showed a rise in the number of referrals over time, with the highest number in February. Of the 120 patients evaluated, cancer was confirmed in 13 (11%).
authors: Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Regional Maxillofacial Unit, University Hospital Aintree, Liverpool L9 1AE, UK. Electronic address: raheela_rafiq@yahoo.co.uk.
authors: Raheela
authors: R
authors: Rafiq
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Brocklehurst
authors: Simon N
authors: SN
authors: Rogers
mesh_terms: D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D004739:England; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008485:Medical Audit; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends