Social inequalities in oral cancer literacy in an adult population in a multicultural deprived area of the UK.
To report the level and correlates of oral cancer literacy in a deprived area of the UK.



This study is part of the East London Oral Health Inequality Study, which included a representative sample of adults 16-65 (n = 2343) years old living in Waltham Forest, Redbridge and Barking and Dagenham in 2009-10. This cross-sectional study adopted a multi-stage, stratified, random sampling approach. Data were collected through home visits by trained examiners and interviewers. Hierarchical logistic regression modelling was adopted.



Only 26.7% participants were aware that a small lesion in the mouth can develop into oral cancer, and 39.5% were aware that early treatment could prevent a lesion from developing into oral cancer. Adjusted odds ratios confirmed the social gradient in awareness that a small lesion in the mouth can develop into oral cancer, even after adjusting for age, gender and ethnicity. Inequalities in awareness that a small lesion in the mouth can develop into oral cancer were significantly attenuated after forcing education level into the equation. Interestingly, adjusting for education cancelled the difference previously observed between manual/routine and professional/managerial occupations.



Oral cancer literacy is poor among adults in Outer North East London, and we have identified particularly vulnerable sub-populations.
Institute of Dentistry, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 2BA, UK.
Rasha
R
Al-Kaabi
Institute of Dentistry, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 2BA, UK.
Ana B O
AB
Gamboa
Institute of Dentistry, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 2BA, UK.
David
D
Williams
Institute of Dentistry, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 2BA, UK.
Wagner
W
Marcenes
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D057220:Health Literacy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008131:London / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D011203:Poverty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
cancer; public health; socioeconomic factors