Al-Maweri Sadeq Ali, Tarakji Bassel, Alsalhani Anas B, Al-Shamiri Hashem M, Alaizari Nader Ahmed, Altamimi Mohammad Al Sakran, Darwish Shourouk
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Sciences, Al-Farabi Colleges of Dentistry and Nursing, Saudi Arabia E-mail :
Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2015;16(8):3377-81. doi: 10.7314/apjcp.2015.16.8.3377.
The aim of this study was to assess the level of awareness and knowledge about signs and risk factors of oral cancer in the general population in Saudi Arabia.
A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect information from Saudi adults aged 15 years and older. A total of 679 persons participated in the survey. Descriptive statistics were calculated and chi-square tests, t-tests, and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to examine differences between groups. The significance level was set at p<0.05.
Only 53.6% of the participants had heard of oral cancer. Smoking and alcohol consumption were identified as the major risk factors by 81.7% and 56.3% of the participants, respectively. Only 22.2% and 18.2%, respectively, were able to correctly identify red and white lesions as early signs of oral cancer. Participants with less than high school education were significantly less aware, and had much less knowledge, of the signs and risk factors of oral cancer (p<0.05).
This survey demonstrates a general lack of awareness among the public about oral cancer and a lack of knowledge about its signs and risk factors. There is a clear need to inform and educate the public in matters relating to the known risk factors associated with oral cancer. A media campaign informing the public about oral cancer is clearly required.
本研究的目的是评估沙特阿拉伯普通人群对口腔癌体征和危险因素的认知及了解水平。
采用自填式问卷从15岁及以上的沙特成年人中收集信息。共有679人参与了调查。计算描述性统计量，并使用卡方检验、t检验和单因素方差分析（ANOVA）来检验组间差异。显著性水平设定为p<0.05。
只有53.6%的参与者听说过口腔癌。分别有81.7%和56.3%的参与者将吸烟和饮酒确定为主要危险因素。分别只有22.2%和18.2%的参与者能够正确识别红色和白色病变为口腔癌的早期体征。受教育程度低于高中的参与者对口腔癌的体征和危险因素的知晓度明显较低，了解的知识也少得多（p<0.05）。
本次调查表明公众对口腔癌普遍缺乏认知，对其体征和危险因素也缺乏了解。显然有必要就与口腔癌相关的已知危险因素向公众进行宣传和教育。显然需要开展一场向公众宣传口腔癌的媒体活动。
