Knowledge of adults about the symptoms and risk factors of oral cancer in Zanjan city

Abstract

Objectives Oral cancer includes a wide range of malignant neoplasms and is one of the ten main causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. This study aimed to assess the level of knowledge of adults about the symptoms and risk factors of oral cancer in Zanjan city. Methods This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted on 345 adults presenting to a teaching hospital in Zanjan in 2014. The data were collected using a questionnaire, which comprised of four main sections regarding symptoms and risk factors of cancer. The data were analysed using independent t-test and ANOVA. Results The mean score of knowledge of adults was 4.88 about the risk factors and 2.86 about the symptoms of cancer out of 12. No significant differences were noted in this regard between males and females or different age groups (P > 0.05). Level of knowledge was significantly correlated with the level of education (P < 0.05). Conclusion The score of knowledge of adults in Zanjan about the symptoms and risk factors of cancer was lower than the average required value in the community. It is absolutely necessary to enhance the public knowledge about oral cancer via the media