Cáncer Oral y Dentistas: Conocimientos, Actitudes y Prácticas en Chile

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The aim of this survey was to describe the knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding oral cancer in a sample of dentists from Las Condes, Santiago de Chile. A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted. A self-filling survey was applied to 264 dentists of Las Condes, Santiago de Chile during june ­ july 2014. Participants were previously informed that the survey was voluntary, anonymous and confidential. The final sample included 205 dentists (Loss Rate: 22.3 %). Descriptive statistic was applied using tabulation and frequency distribution. Most participants identified the main risk factors for oral cancer: tobacco (99.5 %) and alcohol usage (83.4 %). Less than two thirds of the participants identified the two most common precancerous lesions (leukoplakia and erythroplakia) and squamous cell carcinoma as the most common type of oral cancer. 25.4 % of the participants reported to have updated knowledge regarding oral cancer and 35.6 % reported to routinely perform clinical examination to detect oral cancer. Deficiencies in knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding oral cancer of dentists from Las Condes, Santiago de Chile were observed. These deficiencies are likely to be enhanced through educational interventions which would improve their knowledge, attitudes and strengthen their role in the prevention and early diagnosis of oral cancer.