title: Challenges of early detection of oral cancer: raising awareness as a first step to successful campaigning.
abstract: In Germany, ∼ 13,000 people are found to have oral and pharyngeal cancer every year. Awareness and knowledge about this cancer remain insufficient, particularly amongst elderly people. A campaign for early detection was launched in Northern Germany in April 2012. The first step of the campaign was to increase awareness about oral cancer. Prior to a pre-campaign evaluation at the campaign start, March 2012 and an intermediate-campaign evaluation, November 2012, a sample representative for the population aged 50 ≥ years (target group; N = 500) was drawn for a first process evaluation. The surveys were conducted by means of telephone interviews including questions on behaviour, knowledge and sociodemographic/socioeconomic aspects and target group-oriented questions on issue, media and campaign material awareness. The process evaluation showed an increase in issue awareness from 25 to 40% (P < 0.001) and the media awareness increased by over 10% (P < 0.001). The results suggested that particularly women, the core age group (60-79 years) and the educationally disadvantaged group might benefit from the campaign. Awareness about the issue 'oral cancer' was already significantly increased 7 months after the campaign start. The highest general and media-related increase in awareness was achieved in the target group.
authors: Department of Journalism and Communication Research, Hanover University of Music, Drama, and Media, Expo Plaza 12, Hannover 30539, Germany.
authors: Eva
authors: E
authors: Baumann
authors: Centre for Clinical Studies, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg 93042, Germany.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Koller
authors: Clinic of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and.
authors: Jörg
authors: J
authors: Wiltfang
authors: Clinic of Prosthodontics, Propedeutics and Dental Materials, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Arnold-Heller Str. 3, Haus 26, Kiel 24105, Germany.
authors: Hans-Jürgen
authors: HJ
authors: Wenz
authors: Clinic of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and.
authors: Björn
authors: B
authors: Möller
authors: Clinic of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and hertrampf@mkg.uni-kiel.de.
authors: Katrin
authors: K
authors: Hertrampf
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001364:Awareness; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D058015:Health Communication / Q000379:methods*; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008402:Mass Media; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors