title: Assessment of the sociodemographic characteristics and efficacy of screening for oral, head and neck potential malignant lesions in apparently healthy adults in Jos Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The efficacy of screening for oral, head and neck cancers (HNCs) in adequately identifying high-risk groups is controversial.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to review our experience with a free oral, HNC-screening program to determine the sociodemographic characteristics of the participants and the effectiveness of this program to improve future programs.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective cross-sectional survey of participants in a free oral, HNC screening exercise was performed in the years 2009, 2012, and 2013.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the years of screening, 135 participants presented aged between 21 and 83 years (mean = 47.0; ±15.6) with a male to female ratio of 1.2:1. 32.6% consumed alcohol, and 17.8% were smokers. Smoking (P = 0.04) and alcohol use (P = 0.05) were associated with higher rates of suspicious malignant symptoms. There was no statistical correlation between symptom prevalence and the number of participants requiring immediate consultation for oral, HNC (r = 0.47), and those referred for routine follow-up (r = 0.34). Premalignant and malignant lesions were diagnosed in 5 males aged 44-72 years. 83.7% found the screening program beneficial in increasing their awareness of the disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This hospital-based screening demonstrates improved awareness among people about oral, HNCs, and survival outcomes on a small scale. A community-based screening with health education to target a larger high-risk population is recommended to encourage individuals to modify high-risk factors and improve outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Adoga
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: O A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Silas
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Yaro
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: E T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Okwori
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Iduh
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Mgbachi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003710:Demography; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D009549:Nigeria; D012307:Risk Factors; D066252:Sociological Factors; D055815:Young Adult