Gap areas in mitigation of oral cancer: A cross-sectional study evaluating awareness and knowledge of risk factors in oral cancer in a tertiary hospital

PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES: One of the main causes of the increasing oral cancer (OC) burden in India is a lack of awareness and a significant gap in knowledge about risk factors and symptomology of OC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was to evaluate the knowledge and awareness about OC among 500 random patients presenting for care at a tertiary hospital in western Rajasthan which serves a wide area of western, northern, and central Rajasthan. RESULTS: A total of 446 participants, among which 83.6% were males enrolled in the study. Much to our despair, the results showed 35.23% of the participants (P = 0.007) started their habit at age <15 years. Nearly 60.3% of the participants were well aware of the harmful temporary or permanent effects of the tobacco. Around 40.85% of the participants taking tobacco products were ignorant about their changes in the tissues (site of tobacco placement). TV and Radio (50.5%) were the main source of information of the ill effects of tobacco and form a major contribution in public awareness. More than 90% of the participants had read the warnings on the tobacco packets. No doubt participants have knowledge about the ill effects of tobacco still there was a lack in behavioral modifications for tobacco cessation, leading to nonsuccess in quitting, with actual nonunderstanding about the ill effects of tobacco and overall lack of belief in the tobacco control measures. CONCLUSION: Our findings have found a gap in the awareness efforts of OC for the general population and will make public health professionals, clinicians, policymakers, and government a better judge and motivate them to strengthen existing national tobacco control efforts.