Jaber Louay, Shaban Sami, Hariri Deema, Smith Stephanus
College of Dentistry, King Faisal University, Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia.
Int J Health Care Qual Assur. 2011;24(1):8-18. doi: 10.1108/09526861111098201.
Healthcare practitioners (HCPs) have a major responsibility in the prevention and early detection of oral cancer (OC). Accordingly, adequate training in this area will positively enhance healthcare practitioners' accountability towards their patients. The present study was conducted in Saudi Arabia with the objective of assessing HCPs' opinion vis-a-vis OC prevention and early detection.
DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: A cross-sectional survey was distributed among HCPs in six different settings in Saudi Arabia.
Totals of 41.2 per cent and 63.4 per cent of HCPs thought that they are adequately trained to perform an OC examination and to palpate the lymph nodes, respectively. Similarly, 33.2 per cent and 25.8 per cent thought that they are adequately trained to provide tobacco and alcohol cessation education for their patients, respectively. Of HCPs, 45.1 per cent thought they had a low level of knowledge and training in OC prevention and the early detection thereof, 53.6 per cent agreed that their knowledge about OC was not current, and 82 per cent were comfortable with referring suspicious lesions to specialists.
ORIGINALITY/VALUE: It appears that the current knowledge and training in OC prevention and early detection among HCPs in Saudi Arabia is not up to the desired level. Accordingly, it is suggested that OC prevention and early detection should be given the necessary attention when establishing new continuous education strategies in Saudi Arabia.
医疗从业者在口腔癌（OC）的预防和早期检测中肩负着重大责任。因此，在这一领域进行充分培训将积极增强医疗从业者对患者的责任感。本研究在沙特阿拉伯开展，旨在评估医疗从业者对OC预防和早期检测的看法。
设计/方法/途径：在沙特阿拉伯六个不同场所的医疗从业者中开展了一项横断面调查。
分别有41.2%和63.4%的医疗从业者认为他们接受了足够的培训来进行OC检查和触诊淋巴结。同样，分别有33.2%和25.8%的医疗从业者认为他们接受了足够的培训为患者提供戒烟和戒酒教育。在医疗从业者中，45.1%认为他们在OC预防及其早期检测方面的知识和培训水平较低，53.6%同意他们关于OC的知识不及时，82%愿意将可疑病变转诊给专科医生。
原创性/价值：沙特阿拉伯医疗从业者目前在OC预防和早期检测方面的知识和培训似乎未达到理想水平。因此，建议在沙特阿拉伯制定新的继续教育策略时，应给予OC预防和早期检测必要的关注。
