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Volume 4 Issue 1 (January - February, 2016)

Original Articles

AWARENESS OF ORAL CANCER RELATED HABITS AMONG COLLEGE GOING YOUNGSTERS IN NASIK CITY, MAHARASHTRA – A CROSS SECTIONAL SURVEY
Sushil Ahire, Kapil Palekar, Rohan Suhas Bhambar

Introduction: In spite of having a health warning on every packet of cigarettes, smoking in India is increasing rapidly, especially among the young people. Thus the present study was carried to assess the oral cancer awareness among young college going students of Nasik. Methodology: A descriptive cross sectional questionnaire based survey conducted among 400 college going students of Nasik. The subjects were divided into two groups, group A comprised of 200 students of non-medical and group B comprised of 200 medical students of medical stream. The obtained results were subjected to analysis using SPSS version 10 and statistical analysis was carried out using Chi-squared test with p<0.05 was considered as significant value. Results: 81% students of group A and 94% of group B told that they are aware that tobacco smoking/chewing leads to oral cancer with significant p<0.05. 51% students of group A and 93% of group B reported alcohol as causative factor where as 58%  among group A and 85% of group B told that combined effect of alcohol and tobacco causes oral cancer p<0.05. Regarding source of awareness about oral cancer, most of the subjects reported television and cinema as a source of awareness, followed by newspaper and books.  Conclusion: The knowledge and practices about the risk factors were found to be not satisfactory among the studied population. So, there is need to improve the knowledge and practices of risk factors for oral cancer among youngsters by either collaborative approach by various specialties or by arranging continuous medical education programs by medical institutes.
Keywords: Cancer awareness, Oral cancer, Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Introduction: In spite of having a health warning on every packet of cigarettes, smoking in India is increasing rapidly, especially among the young people. Thus the present study was carried to assess the oral cancer awareness among young college going students of Nasik. Methodology: A descriptive cross sectional questionnaire based survey conducted among 400 college going students of Nasik. The subjects were divided into two groups, group A comprised of 200 students of non-medical and group B comprised of 200 medical students of medical stream. The obtained results were subjected to analysis using SPSS version 10 and statistical analysis was carried out using Chi-squared test with p<0.05 was considered as significant value. Results: 81% students of group A and 94% of group B told that they are aware that tobacco smoking/chewing leads to oral cancer with significant p<0.05. 51% students of group A and 93% of group B reported alcohol as causative factor where as 58%  among group A and 85% of group B told that combined effect of alcohol and tobacco causes oral cancer p<0.05. Regarding source of awareness about oral cancer, most of the subjects reported television and cinema as a source of awareness, followed by newspaper and books.  Conclusion: The knowledge and practices about the risk factors were found to be not satisfactory among the studied population. So, there is need to improve the knowledge and practices of risk factors for oral cancer among youngsters by either collaborative approach by various specialties or by arranging continuous medical education programs by medical institutes.
Keywords: Cancer awareness, Oral cancer, Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Corresponding author:  Dr. Sushil Ahire, Associate professor, SMBT Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, Nandi Hills, Dhamangao, Taluka  lgatpuri, Nasik

This article may be cited as:  Ahire S, Palekar K, Bhambar RS. Awareness of Oral Cancer Related Habits among College Going Youngsters In Nasik City, Maharashtra – A Cross Sectional Survey. J Adv Med Dent Scie Res 2015;4(1):125-129.

 
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