title: Increasing opportunistic oral cancer screening examinations: findings from focus groups with general dentists in Puerto Rico.
abstract: This study aims to identify educational and training modalities that dentists in Puerto Rico (PR) believe will increase the quality and quantity of opportunistic oral cancer screening examinations (OCS) in dental offices on the island. The study was conducted in three phases: a systematic search of relevant literature, an expert review and consensus panel, and focus groups (FG) involving PR general dentists. To increase OCS by dentists in PR, the FG participants proposed a small group, hands-on OCS training, an integrated oral cancer course, and readily available videos, photographs, and computer simulations to further demonstrate OCS performance and facilitate differential diagnosis. OCS training requirements for licensure and re-licensure, improving OCS dentist-patient communication skills, and establishment of an oral lesion referral center were also viewed favorably. In conclusion, general dentists in our FGs believed the quality and quantity of OCS in Puerto Rico can be increased through the application of specific continuing education and training modalities.
authors.affiliation: Lutheran Medical Center, 150 55th street, Brooklyn, NY, 11220, USA, wp9@nyu.edu.
authors.forename: Walter J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Psoter
authors.forename: Douglas E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Morse
authors.forename: Melba
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Ayendez
authors.forename: Carmen M Vélez
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Vega
authors.forename: Maria L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Aguilar
authors.forename: Carmen J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Buxó-Martinez
authors.forename: Jodi A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Psoter
authors.forename: Alexander R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Kerr
authors.forename: Christina M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Lane
authors.forename: Vincent J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Scaringi
authors.forename: Augusto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Elias
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003815:Dentists; D004496:Education, Continuing; D004497:Education, Dental / Q000379:methods*; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011647:Puerto Rico; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires