Ghalwash Dalia, Zahran Fatheya
The British University in Egypt, El Sherouk City, Egypt.
Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.
J Egypt Natl Canc Inst. 2025 Jun 23;37(1):31. doi: 10.1186/s43046-025-00290-2.
Oral cancer (OC) is one of the major global health problems with a high incidence rate in developing countries. Early detection can improve the prognosis and survival rate of the disease.
The current study evaluates dentists' general awareness, knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding oral cancer.
In the current cross-sectional study, a self-reported questionnaire was distributed to a sample of dentists in Egypt. A total of 700 dentists participated. The questionnaire included 27 questions on oral cancer knowledge, opinions, attitudes, and practices.
The highest awareness of risk factors concentrated around tobacco and alcohol consumption, and the most acknowledged clinical presentations were non-healing ulcers, red lesions, white lesions, and induration. The tongue was considered a high-risk site by 69% of participants, followed by the floor of the mouth and the buccal/lip mucosa. Only 37% of the participants carried out proper clinical screening for OC, while only 31% carried out routine lymph node examinations. Sixty-six percent of participants considered themselves incompetent regarding detection of OC. Ninety-two percent of participants acknowledged the important role of dentists in the early detection of oral cancer, and 99% of them thought that oral cancer awareness campaigns are needed and would be effective. Awareness was significantly associated with years of practice.
Awareness regarding OC among the Egyptian dentists participating in the current survey showed definitive defects. Hence, efforts to raise awareness of OC among dental practitioners are an important factor in improving/early detection of OC, with the resultant increase in survival rate and decrease in morbidity. This can be reached only through more solid undergraduate syllabi and training as well as workshops and campaigns.
口腔癌（OC）是全球主要的健康问题之一，在发展中国家发病率很高。早期检测可以改善该疾病的预后和生存率。
本研究评估牙医对口腔癌的总体认识、知识、态度和实践。
在当前的横断面研究中，向埃及的一组牙医发放了一份自我报告问卷。共有700名牙医参与。问卷包括27个关于口腔癌知识、观点、态度和实践的问题。
对风险因素的最高认识集中在烟草和酒精消费上，最公认的临床表现是非愈合性溃疡、红色病变、白色病变和硬结。69%的参与者认为舌头是高风险部位，其次是口腔底部和颊/唇黏膜。只有37%的参与者对口腔癌进行了适当的临床筛查，而只有31%的参与者进行了常规淋巴结检查。66%的参与者认为自己在口腔癌检测方面能力不足。92%的参与者承认牙医在口腔癌早期检测中的重要作用，99%的人认为需要开展口腔癌宣传活动且这些活动会有效。认识程度与从业年限显著相关。
参与本次调查的埃及牙医对口腔癌的认识存在明显缺陷。因此，提高牙科从业者对口腔癌的认识是改善/早期检测口腔癌的一个重要因素，从而提高生存率并降低发病率。这只能通过更扎实的本科课程设置、培训以及研讨会和宣传活动来实现。
