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Evaluating the degree of knowledge on oral cancer among general practitioners and dentists in Qazvin.

RATIONALE, AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
Despite easy accessibility of the oral cavity to examination most oral cancers are only identified at advanced stages. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge of general doctors and dentists on oral cancer in Qazvin to form the basis of development of undergraduate and postgraduate education programmes for early detection and prevention of oral cancer.


METHODS
A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was performed on general medical practitioners and general dental practitioners in 2009. Analysis was performed using SPSS software.


RESULTS
The mean knowledge score of all participants was at moderate level and there was no significant difference between the two groups. There was a significant correlation between knowledge score and age, time from graduation and the interval since the last refresher course on oral cancer (P < 0.05). Smoking (78%) and alcohol consumption (34.9%) were noted as the two major risk factors by the entire population study. Approximately 80.9% of participants identified the tongue as among the most common sites for oral cancers while only 25.7% identified the floor of the mouth and 28.3% the lips as other areas of occurrence.


CONCLUSION
This study demonstrated an inadequate level of knowledge on oral cancers in both groups. Additional training in universities as well as continuing educational programmes on prevention and early detection of oral cancers is recommended.