Dentists Behavioral Factors Influencing Early Detection of Oral Cancer: Direct Clinical Observational Study

This study aimed to investigate the possible factors affecting dentists ’ behavior relating to performing oral cancer examinations as part of routine clinical examination. A total of 95 direct clinical observation sessions—utilizing an instrument consisting of 19 evidence-based observational criteria for oral cancer examinations—were observed by four calibrated de ntists. Thirty-two final-year students, 32 interns, and 31 faculty members of Jazan Dental School were examined between April 9 and May 4, 2017. A descriptive analysis was conducted to investigate the frequencies/percentages of the performed observing criteria by all examiners. ANOVA and Tukey tests were carried out to investigate the difference between the examiner groups. A total number of 32 patients participated in the study, whereby each patient was examined by three different examiners from each group, as well as by the attending observer/s. Fewer than 50% of the examiners performed the clinical steps necessary for an oral cancer examination—for example, taking into account past medical history, as well as extra and intra-oral examinations. More than 90% of the examiners examined hard tissue, whereas fewer than 30% of them educated their patients about possible risk factors. A si gnificant difference between examiner groups was found in favor of faculty members. A gap between knowledge and actual practice of oral cancer examinations was evident: majority of participants failed to perform the necessary ...
Source: Journal of Cancer Education - Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research