Talha Zoofa, Ahmad Ishtiaq, Uzakova Aida, Sarfraz Mariyam
Health Services Academy, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Department of Global Health Research, Graduate School of Medicine, Juntendo University, Tokyo, Japan.
Oncology. 2025 Jun 13:1-13. doi: 10.1159/000546971.
Oral cancer (OC) is the second most common type of cancer in Pakistan, and early diagnosis can improve survival rates. However, 75% of these cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage. To reduce the incidence and mortality associated with OC, emphasis should be placed on the detailed screening of the oral cavity by dentists. Prevention and early detection practices are important because they increase 5-year survival and reduce recurrence. This study aimed to assess the early detection practices of OC by dentists and determine the factors influencing their screening practices.
This cross-sectional study was conducted from June 1, 2022, to October 31, 2022, among 235 dentists from the public and private sectors of Islamabad, Pakistan. A validated survey questionnaire with 62 closed-ended items was used. The outcome variable "early detection practices of oral carcinomas" was measured on a scale of 0-8 based on the steps involved in the screening practices. Knowledge scores related to clinical presentation (0-14) and risk factors (0-16) of OC were generated by assigning one point to each correct response. Multivariate linear regression analysis was used to evaluate factors influencing early detection practice scores.
A total of 81.7% of participants had low knowledge related to clinical presentation (mean score = 7.5, SD = 2.2), and 55.3% had high knowledge (mean score = 10.4, SD = 2.06) related to the risk factors of OCs. The mean score for practices related to the early detection of oral carcinomas was 5.4 (SD = 2.04). The duration since attending professional development courses significantly predicted early detection practice scores (p < 0.001). With increasing duration, the early detection practice scores decreased. Moreover, "guidelines about OC examinations" significantly predicted practice scores (higher scores where written guidelines were present) (p < 0.001).
This study offers new evidence on dentists' early detection practices in Pakistan and factors that influence them supporting future training and policy initiatives. It highlights that the early detection of OC improves prognosis, reduces mortality, and minimizes treatment costs. These results emphasize regular professional development courses for the early detection of OC among dentists. This indicates that early detection practices are better in facilities with written guidelines, further emphasizing the need for comprehensive educational materials and training of dentists to improve screening practices. Healthcare authorities should put efforts into implementing a continuous dental education system tailored to the needs of dentists in Pakistan.
口腔癌（OC）是巴基斯坦第二常见的癌症类型，早期诊断可提高生存率。然而，这些病例中有75%在晚期才被诊断出来。为了降低与口腔癌相关的发病率和死亡率，应强调牙医对口腔进行详细筛查。预防和早期检测措施很重要，因为它们能提高5年生存率并减少复发。本研究旨在评估牙医对口腔癌的早期检测措施，并确定影响其筛查措施的因素。
本横断面研究于2022年6月1日至2022年10月31日在巴基斯坦伊斯兰堡公共和私营部门的235名牙医中进行。使用了一份经过验证的包含62个封闭式问题的调查问卷。根据筛查措施所涉及的步骤，将结果变量“口腔癌的早期检测措施”按0至8分进行衡量。通过对每个正确答案给予一分，得出与口腔癌临床表现（0至14分）和危险因素（0至16分）相关的知识得分。采用多元线性回归分析来评估影响早期检测措施得分的因素。
共有81.7%的参与者对临床表现的知识水平较低（平均得分 = 7.5，标准差 = 2.2），55.3%的参与者对口腔癌危险因素的知识水平较高（平均得分 = 10.4，标准差 = 2.06）。与口腔癌早期检测相关措施的平均得分为5.4（标准差 = 2.04）。参加专业发展课程后的时长显著预测了早期检测措施得分（p < 0.001）。随着时长增加，早期检测措施得分下降。此外，“关于口腔癌检查的指南”显著预测了措施得分（有书面指南的得分更高）（p < 0.001）。
本研究为巴基斯坦牙医的早期检测措施及影响因素提供了新证据，支持未来的培训和政策举措。研究强调口腔癌的早期检测可改善预后、降低死亡率并使治疗成本最小化。这些结果强调应为牙医开展定期的口腔癌早期检测专业发展课程。这表明在有书面指南的机构中早期检测措施更好，进一步强调了需要全面的教育材料和对牙医的培训以改善筛查措施。医疗保健当局应努力实施一个根据巴基斯坦牙医需求定制的持续牙科教育系统。
