Research Article
Knowledge of Future Dental Practitioners towards Oral Cancer: Exploratory Findings from a Public University in Malaysia
Table 2
Level of knowledge of participants on oral cancer.
| Variables | Dental students (%) | Total 114 (%) | Stat. cal. value | Fifth year (%) | Fourth year (%) | Third year (%) |
| Do you examine patients’ oral mucosa routinely? | | | | | — | Yes | 37 (32.4) | 32 (28.0) | 45 (39.4) | 114 (100%) | | No | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (0.0) | | Do you screen the oral mucosa if the patients are in high risk of categories? | | | | | χ2 = 2.358, DF = 2, P = 0.308 | Yes | 2 (1.7) | 1 (0.8) | 0 | 3 (2.6) | | No | 35 (30.7) | 31 (27.2) | 45 (39.4) | 111 (97.3) | | When you have graduated will you advise patients about the risk factors for oral cancer? | | | | | χ2 = 0.822, DF = 2, P = 0.663 | Yes | 36 (31.5) | 32 (28.0) | 44 (38.6) | 112 (98.2) | | No | 1 (0.8) | 0 | 1 (0.8) | 2 (1.7) | | Have you had the opportunity to examine patients with oral lesions? | | | | | χ2 = 15.892, DF = 2, P = 0.000 | Yes | 13 (11.4) | 18 (15.7) | 6 (5.2) | 37 (32.4) | | No | 24 (21.0) | 14 (12.2) | 39 (34.2) | 77 (67.5) | | Do you think a patient should go to a doctor or dentist if he/she has an oral lesions? | | | | | χ2 = 2.107, DF = 2, P = 0.349 | Doctor | 5 (4.3) | 3 (2.6) | 2 (1.7) | 10 (8.7) | | Dentist | 32 (28.0) | 29 (25.4) | 43 (37.7) | 104 (91.2) | | Do you feel that you have sufficient knowledge concerning prevention and detection of oral cancer? | | | | | χ2 = 28.598, DF = 2, P = 0.000 | Yes | 23 (20.1) | 13 (11.4) | 3 (2.6) | 39 (34.2) | | No | 14 (12.2) | 19 (16.6) | 42 (36.8) | 75 (65.7) | | Would you like more information or teaching on oral cancer? | | | | | χ2 = 4.055, DF = 2, P = 0.132 | Yes | 35 (30.7) | 29 (25.4) | 45 (39.4) | 109 (95.6) | | No | 2 (1.7) | 3 (2.6) | 0 | 5 (4.3) | |
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Significant at were bold.
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