Knowledge, Attitude And Practice In Oral Cancer Among Dental Hygienists In Libya

Background: Oral cancer remains a global health problem. Lack of awareness leads to inadequate watchfulness regarding early signs/symptoms despite the ease of visual oral inspection. Dental hygienists play an important role in early detection of oral cancerous lesions. Evidence on the awareness and knowledge level of oral cancer and its associated risk factors among dental hygienists in Libya is scarce. The aim of this study was to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practice (KAP) regarding OC among dental hygienists in Libya. Materials and methods: Administered questionnaires were distributed on dental hygienists (through Google Forms). The questionnaire included four sections: sociodemographic information, oral cancer knowledge, attitudes toward oral cancer, and clinical practices related to oral cancer. Participants' responses to the questionnaire were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: Responses were received from 100 participants (60% women and 40% men). Overall, there is a good knowledge of the real risk factors among the participants (86%, 83%, and 71%) regarding the following risk factors smoking, alcohol, and poor diet respectively. The analyze related to the knowledge of non- risk factors, Just over half of the respondents correctly indicated that family history, poor oral hygiene, and poor fitting prosthesis are not risk factors for OC onset (57%; 55%; and 51%, respectively). The majority of respondents (80% & 77% respectively) correctly identified leukoplakia and erythroplakia as oral potentially malignant disorders. The totality 81% of DHs believed they needed continuous updates in the future. With regard to practice, high percentage of DHs stated to perform an extra/intraoral examination and carried out palpation of the lymph nodes. Conclusions: Overall, this study highlighted the importance of introducing continuous education and training courses to dental hygienists which could increase oral cancer prevention and survival rates among oral cancer patients