Study identifies gaps in Turkish dentists’ knowledge of oral cancer and mucosal lesions

“Our article informs about dentists’ knowledge of oral cancer and oral mucosal lesions and recommends measures to eliminate possible knowledge deficiencies. Considering that dentists can play an active role in the early diagnosis of oral cancers, we aimed to contribute to dental education in Turkey,” senior author Dr Mert Karabağ, a researcher in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University in Rize, told Dental Tribune International (DTI).

The study involved 361 dentists who were actively practising in Turkey between January 2020 and January 2023. Participants received a 16-question survey sent via email enquiring about their self-reported experience and knowledge of oral cancer lesions and their biopsy and testing their knowledge of identification, diagnosis and biopsy of cancerous and non-cancerous lesions.

Most participants identified smoking, alcohol consumption, UV radiation exposure and viral infections such as human papillomavirus as predisposing factors for oral cancer. Similar studies have also found that dentists generally have good knowledge of these risk factors. However, 64.5% of the participants incorrectly believed that advanced age increased oral cancer risk, unlike the findings in studies in other countries.

Although 62.3% reported that they were unsure of whether they had sufficient knowledge and experience of oral cancer lesions, 33.0% of the participants stated that they had previously diagnosed a cancerous lesion. Only 21.3% considered their knowledge and experience to be sufficient, and 70.8% of them had previously diagnosed a cancerous lesion. Furthermore, only 36.0% of the respondents accurately stated that the tongue is the most common site for oral cancers.

Only 18.0% of the participants said they had sufficient knowledge and experience of oral biopsy techniques, and 70.8% of those participants had previously diagnosed a cancerous lesion. For the question testing biopsy knowledge, 27.4% of participants who answered correctly stated that they had sufficient knowledge and experience in this regard.

Of participants who stated that they had sufficient knowledge and experience of oral cancer lesions, 34.4% had received training on oral cancer, whereas 55.7% of the participants overall had not. Among the respondents who had previously received training on oral cancer, the rate of having diagnosed a cancerous lesion was 42.5%, compared with 25.4% among those who had not received training.

Commenting on the findings, Dr Karabağ told DTI that he was surprised to learn that the results were similar between participants who reported having sufficient knowledge of and experience with oral cancer and those who did not feel their knowledge and experience were sufficient. The study highlights the need to increase dentists’ knowledge about oral cancer through undergraduate and continuing education. Further studies with larger samples are needed to better identify the gaps in dentists’ knowledge on the subject.

The vast majority of the participants were general dentists, followed by oral and maxillofacial surgeons. The researchers reported that oral and maxillofacial surgeons had the highest rate of correct responses demonstrating their knowledge, experience and clinical practices, whereas prosthodontists showed the least knowledge of oral cancer. More oral and maxillofacial surgeons also had received specific training on oral cancer.

“The findings will contribute to early diagnosis and survival rates of oral cancer and will help improve dental professionals’ knowledge and experience with oral cancer lesions,” Dr Karabağ concluded.

The study, titled “Evaluation of Turkish dentists’ knowledge about oral cancer and oral mucosal lesions”, was published online on 29 June 2024 in BMC Oral Health.

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