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Awareness of Undergraduate Dental and Medical Students Toward Oral Cancer

Background: Oral cancer is a common malignancy in Nepal and many other southeast Asian countries, which is predisposed by a variety of potentially malignant oral diseases. Considering the importance of knowledge of health professionals and their role in early diagnosis and reduction of cancer statistics. Aim: This study aims to evaluate the awareness of undergraduate dental and medical students toward oral cancer. Methods: The study involved undergraduate dental and medical students of BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal. A self-administered questionnaire adapted from Carter and Ogden was distributed among undergraduate medical and dental students. Results: 143 dental and 311 medical students responded to the questionnaire. Significantly more dental (80.4%) than medical students (36.0%) were found to routinely examine the oral mucosa. Tobacco smoking and chewing were the most commonly recognized risk factors by both medical and dental students. Most of the students found ulcer as the most common change associated with oral cancer. Only 30 out of the total students felt very well informed about oral cancer. Conclusion: This study has demonstrated a lack of awareness in some aspects of oral cancer among medical and dental students which highlights the need to frame new teaching methodologies. Similar studies from other health institutions would provide an insight regarding the same and could be a base for formulating a uniform curriculum in the implementation of knowledge regarding oral cancer.