Awareness of Oral Cancer and OPMDs among Patients Attending the University Dental Hospital, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

E. A. Shanika D. Somathunga; D. M. Sithara H. Dissanayaka; D. R. Dilini L.  Ratnayake; Ruwan D. Jayasinghe

doi:10.31557/apjcc.2021.6.1.47-51

Authors

E. A. Shanika D. Somathunga
D. M. Sithara H. Dissanayaka
D. R. Dilini L. Ratnayake
Ruwan D. Jayasinghe Dept. of Oral Medicine and Periodontology, Faculty of Dental Sciences, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31557/apjcc.2021.6.1.47-51

Keywords:

Awareness - oral cancer - OPMDs - betel chewing - tobacco

Abstract

Objective: To assess awareness of oral cancer and OPMDs among patients attending for dental treatment at the University Dental Hospital, Peradeniya.
Methods and materials: A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect information from 500 randomly selected outpatients attended the University Dental Hospital, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. The questionnaire included questions to ascertain information on socio-demographic parameters, awareness of oral cancer and OPMDs, habits of betel chewing, smoking and alcohol consumption.
Results: 43.2% of the respondents were satisfactorily aware of the possibility of occurrence of oral cancer and OPMDs. From all the individuals who were participated to this questionnaire, 16 (3.2%) of individuals have a habit of betel chewing, 4.2% of individuals have a habit of smoking and 8.3% of individuals have a habit of alcohol consumption, respectively while having a satisfactory awareness about oral cancer and OPMDs.
Conclusions: This survey revealed that most of the patients attending the hospital were not in a satisfied level of awareness about oral cancer and OPMDs. Knowledge about the causal relationships with betel chewing was low compared to tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption.