Oral cancer awareness of the general public in Saudi Arabia.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to assess the level of awareness and knowledge about signs and risk factors of oral cancer in the general population in Saudi Arabia.


METHODS
A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect information from Saudi adults aged 15 years and older. A total of 679 persons participated in the survey. Descriptive statistics were calculated and chi-square tests, t-tests, and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to examine differences between groups. The significance level was set at p<0.05.


RESULTS
Only 53.6% of the participants had heard of oral cancer. Smoking and alcohol consumption were identified as the major risk factors by 81.7% and 56.3% of the participants, respectively. Only 22.2% and 18.2%, respectively, were able to correctly identify red and white lesions as early signs of oral cancer. Participants with less than high school education were significantly less aware, and had much less knowledge, of the signs and risk factors of oral cancer (p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
This survey demonstrates a general lack of awareness among the public about oral cancer and a lack of knowledge about its signs and risk factors. There is a clear need to inform and educate the public in matters relating to the known risk factors associated with oral cancer. A media campaign informing the public about oral cancer is clearly required.
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Sciences, Al-Farabi Colleges of Dentistry and Nursing, Saudi Arabia E-mail : sadali05@hotmail.com.
Sadeq Ali
SA
Al-Maweri
Bassel
B
Tarakji
Anas B
AB
Alsalhani
Hashem M
HM
Al-Shamiri
Nader Ahmed
NA
Alaizari
Mohammad Al Sakran
MA
Altamimi
Shourouk
S
Darwish
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms; D012307:Risk Factors; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D012907:Smoking; D013472:Sunlight; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D064424:Tobacco Use; D055815:Young Adult