The awareness and knowledge on oral cancer and its relation towards smoking habit among non-medical background students
- Author:
Reem Abdelgabar Abdalla Musa
1
Author Information
1. Craniofacial and Biomaterials Sciences Cluster, Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Bertam, 13200 Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
- Collective Name:Sa'adiah Shahabudin; Siti Noor Fazliah Mohd. Noor; Rohayu Hami
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Awareness;
knowledge;
oral cancer;
smoking;
student
- From:Archives of Orofacial Sciences
2018;13(2):70-79
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Oral cancer remains as a worldwide health issue. In Malaysia, oral neoplasm contributed about 10.6%
death at the government hospitals. The significant consequences of delaying referral and poor prognosis of oral
cancer was mainly due to the lack of knowledge among public. This study aims to determine the level of awareness
and knowledge on oral cancer among students with non-medical background in Kepala Batas, Pulau Pinang,
Malaysia. A cross sectional study using questionnaires were conducted among systematically randomly selected
275 non-medical background students aged 18 years old and above. The association of smoking habit with oral
cancer awareness and knowledge was evaluated using chi-square test. Factors associated with the knowledge
were determined at both univariable and multivariable levels using simple logistic and multiple logistic regression
analyses respectively. Oral cancer awareness level was high among the students (85%) even though knowledge
on early signs of oral cancer was low (<37%). Students aged >19 years old has 1.96 time the odds compared to
students aged ≤19 to have poor knowledge while Malay has 4.28 time the odds compared to Indian to have poor
knowledge. Although smoking was observed as the most recognisable risk factor of oral cancer (82%), the smoking
prevalence was relatively high (46.9%). The smokers in this study had low awareness and knowledge on oral
cancer compared to the non-smoker. Hence, preventive measures adopting knowledge transfer should be
proposed to enhance individual awareness and knowledge on oral cancer with Smoking cessation programme to
help the smoker to quit smoking.
- Full text:1.2018my0157.pdf
