Oral cancer awareness of general medical and general dental practitioners.

Objective To assess general medical practitioners’ (GMPs’) and
general dental practitioners’ (GDPs’) awareness of prevention and early
detection of oral cancer.
Design Cross-sectional questionnaire-based study.
Setting Primary care.
Method Questionnaires were delivered to all GMPs and GDPs in
Tayside, assessing oral examination habits, delivery of advice on oral
cancer risk factors, knowledge of oral cancer risk factors and clinical
appearance, preferred point of referral and requests for further
information.
Results Response rates of 71% and 84% were obtained from GMPs
and GDPs respectively. GMPs were less likely to examine patients’ oral
mucosa routinely, less likely to advise patients about risk factors for
oral cancer, identified fewer risk factors for, and felt less confi dent
about diagnosing oral cancer from clinical appearance than their
dental counterparts. Seventy-one percent and 80% of GMPs and GDPs
respectively requested further information about oral cancer.
Conclusion Patients with oral lesions often present to their general
medical practitioner. The incidence of oral cancer is rising in the United
Kingdom, therefore the role of general medical practitioners in prevention
and detection of oral cancer is becoming ever more important.
This study highlights the need for improved education of general medical
practitioners on oral cancer.