Cotter Jane C, McCann Ann L, Schneiderman Emet D, De Wald Janice P, Campbell Patricia R
Baylor Charles A Sammons Oncology Outpatient Dental Clinic,Texas A&M Health ScienceCenter, Baylor College of Dentistry, TX, USA.
J Dent Hyg. 2011 Fall;85(4):326-34. Epub 2011 Nov 11.
The 5 year survival rates for oral cancer have not changed in the last 50 years. A simple intra- and extra-oral examination provided by health care professionals could help to reduce morbidity and mortality of oral cancer. This study focused on Texas dental hygienists' performance of oral cancer screenings (OCS) and factors that influenced their performance of this examination.
A 33 question survey of 608 randomly selected Texas dental hygienists was conducted. Frequency, chi-square and Spearman correlation tests were performed.
Three hundred and six hygienists replied and provided the data for this study. The data indicated that 45.8% "always" performed OCS, 23.5% performed OCS at the initial appointment and 47.4% at the recall appointment. Experience and comfort level were the greatest influences on OCS performance. Dental hygienists practicing for 16 or more years performed OCS 51.2% of the time, while those with only 0 to 5 years of experience performed OCS 25.5% of the time. A statistically significant correlation (ρ=0.15, p<0.007) was found be tween years of experience and performance of OCS. A significant correlation (ρ=0.18, p<0.001) was found between the identification of a suspicious lesion and the performance of OCS. Forty-nine percent of dental hygienists reported feeling "very comfortable" with intra-oral examinations, but only 26.5% felt "very comfortable" with extra-oral examinations. A statistically significant correlation (ρ=0.16, p<0.001) was found between comfort level in the performance of an OCS and reported frequency of OCS. The majority of subjects performed poorly on the knowledge portion of the survey (mean=53%). There was a significant correlation (ρ=0.22, p<0.001) between attendance at OCS continuing education courses and the performance of OCS.
Dental hygienists' knowledge about oral cancer was not current and comfort levels with performing OCS were low. These indicate a need for a stronger emphasis on the importance of OCS for students during dental hygiene education and a more thorough continuing education for practicing dental hygienists.
口腔癌的5年生存率在过去50年中没有变化。医疗保健专业人员进行的简单口腔内和口腔外检查有助于降低口腔癌的发病率和死亡率。本研究聚焦于得克萨斯州牙科保健员的口腔癌筛查（OCS）表现以及影响他们进行此项检查的因素。
对608名随机选取的得克萨斯州牙科保健员进行了一项包含33个问题的调查。进行了频率、卡方和斯皮尔曼相关性检验。
306名保健员回复并提供了本研究的数据。数据表明，45.8%的人“总是”进行OCS，23.5%的人在初次就诊时进行OCS，47.4%的人在复诊时进行OCS。经验和舒适度对OCS表现影响最大。从业16年或更长时间的牙科保健员进行OCS的时间占51.2%，而那些只有0至5年经验的人进行OCS的时间占25.5%。发现经验年限与OCS表现之间存在统计学显著相关性（ρ = 0.15，p < 0.007）。在发现可疑病变与OCS表现之间发现了显著相关性（ρ = 0.18，p < 0.001）。49%的牙科保健员报告对口腔内检查“非常舒适”，但只有26.5%的人对口腔外检查“非常舒适”。在OCS表现的舒适度与报告的OCS频率之间发现了统计学显著相关性（ρ = 0.16，p < 0.001）。大多数受试者在调查的知识部分表现不佳（平均 = 53%）。参加OCS继续教育课程与OCS表现之间存在显著相关性（ρ = 0.22，p < 0.001）。
牙科保健员关于口腔癌的知识不及时，进行OCS的舒适度较低。这些表明在牙科保健教育期间需要更加强调OCS对学生的重要性，并为从业牙科保健员提供更全面的继续教育。
