Table 5 Number and percentage of undergraduate dental students and interns who revealed positive attitudes toward oral cancer prevention
Question | Survey results (agree) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Male, n (%) | Female, n (%) | Overall, n (%) | |||||
Fourth | Fifth | Intern | Fourth | Fifth | Intern | ||
I am adequately trained to examine patients for oral cancer | 35 (8.9) | 24 (6.1) | 13 (3.3) | 39 (10.0) | 40 (10.2) | 11 (2.8) | 162 (41.3) |
I am adequately trained to palpate cervical lymph nodes | 51 (13.0) | 42 (10.7) | 18 (4.6) | 79 (20.2) | 97 (24.7) | 17 (4.3) | 304 (77.5) |
I am adequately trained to refer patients high risk oral lesions to specialists | 45 (11.5) | 31 (7.9) | 20 (5.1) | 57 (14.5) | 69 (17.6) | 18 (4.6) | 240 (61.2) |
I am adequately trained to provide tobacco cessation education | 40 (10.2) | 39 (9.9) | 17 (4.3) | 72 (18.4) | 81 (20.7) | 18 (4.6) | 267 (68.1) |
I am adequately trained to provide alcohol cessation education | 43 (11.0) | 32 (8.2) | 15 (3.8) | 69 (17.6) | 69 (17.6) | 16 (4.1) | 244 (62.3) |
It is the role of the dentist to screen for oral mucosal pathology | 51 (13.0) | 45 (11.5) | 19 (4.9) | 82 (20.9) | 117 (29.8) | 20 (5.1) | 334 (85.2) |
I should provide my patients smoking cessation counseling and advice | 54 (13.8) | 50 (12.8) | 19 (4.8) | 83 (21.2) | 122 (31.1) | 20 (5.1) | 348 (88.8) |
Screening of oral mucosal soft tissues should occur at new patient appointments | 57 (14.5) | 49 (12.5) | 19 (4.9) | 80 (20.4) | 118 (30.1) | 20 (5.1) | 343 (87.5) |
Screening of oral mucosal soft tissues should occur at recall patient appointments | 48 (12.2) | 47 (12.0) | 18 (4.6) | 83 (21.2) | 110 (28.1) | 17 (4.3) | 323 (82.4) |
Do you think you need additional training in oral cancer prevention and screening? | 60 (15.3) | 51 (13.0) | 21 (5.4) | 92 (23.5) | 124 (31.6) | 20 (5.1) | 368 (93.9) |