Oral Cancer Awareness and its Determinants among a SelectedMalaysian Population

Abstract

<br /><strong>Objective</strong>: To assess oral cancer awareness, its associated factors and related sources of information among aselected group of Malaysians. <br /><strong>Methods</strong>: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on all Malaysian ethnic groupsaged ≥15 years old at eight strategically chosen shopping malls within a two week time period. Data wereanalysed using chi-square tests and multiple logistic regression. Significance level was set at α <strong>Results</strong>:Most (84.2%) respondents had heard of oral cancer. Smoking was the most (92.4%) recognized high risk habit.Similar levels of awareness were seen for unhealed ulcers (57.3%) and red/white patches (58.0%) as signs of oralcancer. Age, gender, ethnicity, marital status, education, occupation and income were significantly associatedwith oral cancer awareness (p<0.05). <br /><strong>Conclusions</strong>: There was a general lack of awareness regarding the riskhabits, early signs and symptoms, and the benefits of detecting this disease at an early stage. Mass media andhealth campaigns were the main sources of information about oral cancer. In our Malaysian population, genderand age were significantly associated with the awareness of early signs and symptoms and prevention of oralcancer, respectively.