title: Oral Cancer Knowledge and Practice among Dental Patients and their Attitude Towards Tobacco Cessation in Iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  One of the main causes of delay in diagnosis of oral cancer is lack of awareness about aetiology and symptoms among the general population. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and practice of patients regarding oral cancer and their attitude towards tobacco cessation.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was carried out in Isfahan-Iran in 2014. A 29-item self-administrated questionnaire was designed and piloted and distributed to patients attending dental clinics. Questions were focused on awareness about oral cancer risk factors, signs and symptoms, places in the mouth which are more susceptible and attitude toward tobacco cessation. Chi-square, T-test, ANOVA and logistic regression tests were used for statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 546 valid completed questionnaires were obtained. The mean knowledge score of patients was 4.1(±2.7) out of 13. Some 80% of patients did not know about early manifestations of oral cancer. Only 18% knew the most likely sites of oral cancer. Only 43.1% and 65.2% of patients reported alcohol and tobacco consumption as the main risk factors but they had a fair knowledge about other risk factors. There was no significant difference in Knowledge level between patients regarding their sex, educational levels and age. Most patents (90%) expected their dentists to warn them about the harmful effects of smoking and showed willingness to quit if recommended.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Knowledge about oral cancer was found to be quite low. It seems necessary to increase the level of public awareness using educational programs with cooperation of dentists in tobacco cessation programs.
authors.affiliation: Dental Implant Research Center, Department of Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry, Isfahan University of Medical Science, Isfahan, Iran E-mail : tahani@dnt.mui.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Sayed Mohammad
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Razavi
authors.forename: Bahareh
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tahani
authors.forename: Samin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nouri
authors.forename: Azadeh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khazaei
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology*; D013335:Students, Dental / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D020340:Tobacco Use Cessation / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult