Page 55 - MDA SCATE 2024 Programme Book
P. 55

ORAL PRESENTATION

                                                                                         ABSTRACTS



                       Oral Cancer Awareness Amongst Dental Patients in the District of Kinta,
       Abstract 7      Perak
                       NMRR Registration Number: NMRR-21-1638-60719
                       Yuen, K. M., Hema, K. M., Liau, E. J., & Stephen Joseph, G.
                       Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Hospital Permaisuri Bainun, Ipoh

                       Introduction: Oral cancer is a major health problem in Malaysia, sadly most
                       people are not aware of the fact that if detected early, the survival rate of oral
                       cancer is very high. As of the year 2020 oral cancer was ranked as the 19th
                       most prevalent cancer in Malaysia by the Global Cancer Observatory.
                       Objectives: The objective of this study was to examine the level of awareness
                       concerning  oral  cancer,  including  knowledge  of  its  signs,  symptoms,  risk
                       factors.  Additionally,  attitudes  toward  oral  cancer  screening  would  be
                       appraised among individuals visiting government dental clinics in the Kinta
                       District.
                       Methodology: A cross sectional study using self-administered questionnaire
                       on patients attending government dental clinics across the Kinta district.
                       Results: Of 404 patients completing the survey, 59.4% were female, Malay
                       (62.9%)  with  93.1%  having  at  least  secondary  education.  Twenty-five
                       respondents reported family history of oral cancer. Around 19.4% responds
                       to have at least one high risk habit, with 78.5% of individuals having general
                       awareness  of  oral  cancer  and  the  most  common  source  of  information
                       was from the media (57.2%). A total of 310 patients affirm that screening
                       is  mandatory,  however  only  20.6%  had  attended  full  mouth  examination
                       (p<0.05).  Non-healing  ulcers  (88.6%),  white/red  patches  (82.7%)  and
                       abnormal mass (88.9%) were the top three signs and symptoms identified.
                       Around 56.9% had been educated by their dentist before and majority trusts
                       information on the official Ministry of Health webpage. There is a significant
                       difference between level of education with respondents of at least one high
                       risk habit (p=0.28) and awareness of the need for oral examination (p<001).
                       Conclusion: Awareness levels, knowledge of risk factors and identifying early
                       signs and symptoms of oral cancer necessitate the need for more structured
                       preventive programs using media. Health workers should do more because
                       they have a pivotal role in early diagnosis through oral cancer screening,
                       raising levels of knowledge and rectifying misconceptions about oral cancer.























                                                                                                     PAGE 55
   50   51   52   53   54   55   56   57   58   59   60