Factors Influencing Oral Cancer Screening Preferences in Patients Attending Tertiary Care University Oral Health Clinic

Abstract

Background: Understanding factors that influence patients' preferences towards oral cancer (OC) screening is imperative to provide high-quality evidence-based OC screening interventions that can be targeted for population-level uptake. This study determined adult patients' knowledge and awareness of OC, and how health behaviours influenced their preferences towards OC screening.

Methods: This cross-sectional study used a 42-point questionnaire, between February and May 2020 using a combination of in-person and telephone interviews. Chi-square test and multiple logistic regression analysis was applied to confounding factors that returned statistical significance against OC knowledge and awareness. Significance of p < 0.05 was accepted.

Results: 68 (38.6%) participants out of a total 176 had good knowledge of OC and 89 (50.6%) had good awareness. 31.8% reported preference for OC screening by a general dental practitioner (GDP) over a general medical practitioner (GMP). Majority (72.7%) reported acceptance of OC screening at their next GDP visit. Ages 56-70 (OR=0.357, 95% CI) and previous smokers (OR=0.336, 95% CI) significantly influenced screening preferences. Knowledge of risk factors did not significantly influence OC screening preferences (χ2= 3.178, p=0.075).

Conclusions: Significant gaps in OC knowledge, screening and role of GDPs exist with smoking history and age influencing OC screening preferences.