Authors
Department of Oral Health Sciences, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
Abstract
CONTEXT: Oral cancer is preceded by visible changes in the oral mucosa. These lesions can be
detected by oral self‑examination, but awareness about oral cancer is still low in developing countries.
AIM: To evaluate the effect of health education on awareness about oral cancer and oral
self‑examination.
SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Quasi‑experimental trial was conducted in an urban resettlement colony
of Chandigarh, India.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A brochure having information and pictorials on oral lesions was
used for conducting health education sessions on a one‑to‑one basis in the household setting
among 85 males in age group 15–59 years during 2013, and each participant was encouraged
to perform an oral self‑examination. Study participants were interviewed about their awareness
on oral cancer and oral self‑examination before‑ and after‑health education using a pretested
interview schedule.
STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Awareness items were scored, and mean change in awareness score
was computed. Paired t‑test was used for testing statistical significance.
RESULTS: Thirty‑three percent of the study participants were current smokers, 25% consumed
alcohol, and 9.4% chewed tobacco. The awareness scores after health education increased
significantly from 5.3 to 6.7 (P < 0.05), and 34% of the tobacco or alcohol users expressed their
intention to quit these habits, and two persons actually quit tobacco chewing. Out of the 77 study
participants who performed oral self‑examination, nine were able to detect lesions, and one was
found to have submucous fibrosis.
CONCLUSIONS: Health education intervention was able to initiate a favorable behavior change in
the community. Hence, oral self‑examination programs should be promoted.
Keywords
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