Oral cancer awareness among students from Mumbai University

Authors

  • Dnyanesh Limaye Department of Clinical Research, Hochschule Hannover, Hannover, Germany http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7264-9210
  • Gauri Bhatkhande Department of Pharmacy, Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
  • Shweta Sabu Department of Pharmacy, Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
  • Aashvi Jain Department of Pharmacy, Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
  • Poorva Taskar Department of Pharmacy, Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
  • Utkarsh Gupta Department of Pharmacy, Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
  • Arlan Sydymanov Department of Clinical Research, Hochschule Hannover, Hannover, Germany
  • Vaidehi Limaye Department of Clinical Research, Hochschule Hannover, Hannover, Germany
  • Ravi Shankar Pitani Department of Community Medicine, Sri Ramachandra University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
  • Sushama Sathe Department of Health Sciences, Research Institute of Health Sciences & Management, Pune, Maharashtra, India Department of Health Sciences, Chetan Dattaji Gaikwad Institute of Management Studies, Pune University, Maharashtra, India
  • Gerhard Fortwengel Department of Clinical Research, Hochschule Hannover, Hannover, Germany
  • Zeinab Kanso University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, USA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2319-2003.ijbcp20182667

Keywords:

Knowledge, Oral cancer, Smoking, Tobacco, University students

Abstract

Background: Oral cancer is among the top three types of cancers in India. Severe alcoholism, use of tobacco in the form of cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, and betel nut chewing are the most common risk factors for oral cancer. Often individuals with pre cancer even notice the alterations, such as reduced mouth opening in oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF), but they are not aware about the causes and consequences of these changes. Awareness about causes and features of oral cancers can be very helpful in prevention, control and early diagnosis of oral cancer.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among students from Mumbai University, India during May-June 2017. Five hundred students were approached to participate in the study of which 400 agreed to participate. Pretested questionnaire was distributed and collected data was analyzed using IBM SPSS version 23.

Results: There were 199 (49%) males and 201 (50%) females in the study and response rate was (80%). Respondents had good knowledge about oral cancer. Seventy four percent (268/362) respondents correctly identified smoking, and tobacco chewing as possible causes of oral cancer. Almost all (96%; 348/362) respondents correctly responded that oral cancer does not spread from person to person through touch or speaking. Seventy two percent (260/362) respondents believed that oral cancer is curable. Significantly higher number of male (98%) compared to female participants answered correctly to questions regarding spread of disease and occurrence of oral cancer in AIDS patients.

Conclusions: Participants showed good knowledge about oral cancer. Female participants showed lesser knowledge compared to male counterparts. Details about oral cancer should be incorporated in the undergraduate curriculum and periodic awareness programs should be organized for students.

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References

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Published

2018-06-22

How to Cite

Limaye, D., Bhatkhande, G., Sabu, S., Jain, A., Taskar, P., Gupta, U., Sydymanov, A., Limaye, V., Pitani, R. S., Sathe, S., Fortwengel, G., & Kanso, Z. (2018). Oral cancer awareness among students from Mumbai University. International Journal of Basic & Clinical Pharmacology, 7(7), 1215–1219. https://doi.org/10.18203/2319-2003.ijbcp20182667

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Original Research Articles