A Snapshot of Knowledge about Oral Cancer in Italy: A 505 Person Survey

Riccardo Nocini, Giorgia Capocasale, Daniele Marchioni and Francesca Zotti
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Riccardo Nocini: Department of Otorhinolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital of Verona, 37126 Verona, Italy
Giorgia Capocasale: Section of Dentistry and Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of Surgical Sciences, Paediatrics and Gynaecology, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy
Daniele Marchioni: Department of Otorhinolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital of Verona, 37126 Verona, Italy
Francesca Zotti: Section of Dentistry and Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of Surgical Sciences, Paediatrics and Gynaecology, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 13, 1-16

Abstract: Objectives : Patients’ knowledge about oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) plays an important role in primary prevention, early diagnosis, and prognosis and survival rate. The aim of this study was to assess OSCC awareness attitudes among general population in order to provide information for educational interventions. Methods : A survey delivered as a web-based questionnaire was submitted to 505 subjects (aged from 18 to 76 years) in Italy, and the answers collected were statistically analyzed. Information was collected about existence, incidence, features of lesions, risk factors of oral cancer, and self-inspection habits, together with details about professional reference figures and preventive behaviors. Results : Chi-square tests of independence with adjusted standardized residuals highlighted correlations between population features (age, gender, educational attainment, provenance, medical relationship, or previous diagnoses of oral cancer in family) and knowledge about oral cancer. Conclusions : Knowledge about OSCC among the Italian population is limited, and it might be advisable to implement nudging and sensitive customized campaigns in order to promote awareness and therefore improve the prognosis of this disease.

Keywords: oral cancer; diagnostic delay; patients awareness (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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