Cancer Management and Research (Dec 2024)

Oral Cancer Awareness Among Dental Students and Interns at Khatam Al Nabieen University, Kabul, Afghanistan

  • Fayaz Y,
  • Ahmadi SU,
  • Khawaja Omari A,
  • Miri SAS,
  • Akbari J,
  • Mohammadi H,
  • Fahimi R

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 16
pp. 1727 – 1732

Abstract

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Yahya Fayaz,1 Shahab Uddin Ahmadi,1 Atia Khawaja Omari,2 Said Ahmad Sorosh Miri,2 Jawad Akbari,1 Hussain Mohammadi,1 Reza Fahimi3 1Department of Stomatology, Khatam AL Nabieen University, Kabul, Afghanistan; 2Department of Prosthodontics, Khatam AL Nabieen University, Kabul, Afghanistan; 3Health Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UKCorrespondence: Yahya Fayaz, Department of Stomatology, Khatam Al Nabieen University, Kabul, Afghanistan, Tel +93706281798, Email [email protected]: Oral cancers, the eighth most common globally and sixth in Afghanistan, pose a major public health challenge due to limited healthcare access. Awareness is vital for prevention, control, and early detection.Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among university students in Kabul, Afghanistan, from April to November 2022. A revalidated questionnaire containing 14 closed-ended questions was translated into Dari by a specialist and distributed in person to students and dental interns, with an average completion time of approximately 10 min. The collected data were then analyzed using IBM SPSS version 25.Results: The study included 178 males (39.3%) and 275 females (60.7%). About 74.6% identified smoking and tobacco chewing as causes of oral cancer, and 74.9% knew it is not transmitted through physical contact or speaking. Additionally, 60.9% believed oral cancer is curable. Males had a higher mean knowledge score (62.7%) compared to females (58.4%). More females had heard of oral cancer, but there were no significant gender differences in knowledge about causes, transmission, or the impact of AIDS on oral cancer.Conclusion: The study revealed insufficient knowledge about oral cancer among participants. While males exhibited slightly better understanding than females, the difference was not significant.Keywords: oral cancer, dental undergraduates, awareness, Kabul

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