Maryland dental hygienists' knowledge and opinions of oral cancer risk factors and diagnostic procedures

OBJECTIVES: To examine Maryland dental hygienists' (DHs) knowledge of oral cancer risk factors and diagnostic procedures, as well as opinions about th e currency and adequacy of their oral cancer knowledge, educational prepara tion, interest in, and preferred types of, continuing education courses. METHODS: Seven hundred DHs were randomly selected from a registry of 2677 M aryland licensed dental hygienists. A mailed survey instrument provided bas eline data on 331 (RR = 60%) DHs, Stratified tabular and logistic analytica l techniques were employed (alpha level less than or equal to0.05). RESULTS: Most correctly identified tobacco use (99.7%) and alcohol use (89% ) as risk factors; however, 31% incorrectly identified poor oral hygiene as a risk factor. 64% of DHs correctly identified older age as a risk factor, yet only 16% identified that the majority of oral cancers are diagnosed in the 60+ year old age group. Nearly 91% correctly identified the examinatio n procedures of the tongue for oral cancer detection; while only 16% of DHs correctly identified erythroplakia and leukoplakia as the conditions most likely associated with oral cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Gaps in knowledge exist and strongly suggest the need for cont inuing education courses to clarify risk factors and diagnostic procedures associated with earlier oral cancer detection and prevention.