Awareness and Knowledge of Tobacco Use and Its Relation to Oral Cancer Among Patients Visiting Stomatology Teaching Hospital

Fariha Kamal,1 Elaha Somaya Ghafary,2 Mohammad Hassan Hamrah,3 Ghulam Sarwar Khalid,4 Mohammad Hussain Hamrah,5 Zaheruddin Hasam,6 Neghat Ghafoory7 1Department of Oral Medicine, Kabul University of Medical Sciences, Kabul, Afghanistan; 2Department of Periodontics, Kabul University of Medical Sciences, Kabul, Afghanistan; 3Department of Public Health and Health Systems, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan; 4Department of Pharmacology, Alberoni University, Kapisa, Afghanistan; 5Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan; 6Department of Dentistry, Jawzjan Public Hospital, Sheberghan, Afghanistan; 7Oral and MaxillofacialSurgery Department, Stomatology Teaching Hospital Kabul University of Medical Sciences, Kabul, AfghanistanCorrespondence: Elaha Somaya Ghafary, Department of Periodontics, Kabul University of Medical Sciences, Kabul, Afghanistan, Email [email protected]: Oral cancer (OC) is a major global health issue, with tobacco use being one of the most significant preventable risk factors. Despite its strong association with OC, public awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco remains limited. This study aims to evaluate the awareness and knowledge of tobacco use related to oral cancer among patients referred to the Stomatology Teaching Hospital.Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted at the Stomatology Teaching Hospital of Kabul University of Medical Sciences (KUMS) between January 1 and July 30, 2023. Using a convenience sampling method, the study included 435 patients aged 15 to 76 years. Logistic regression analysis was employed to determine factors associated with tobacco use, and the data were analyzed using SPSS version 26.0.Results: Participants were divided into two groups: tobacco users and non-tobacco users. Most of them were young (18 to 30 years old) with a significant difference in oral cancer knowledge between the two groups (p < 0.001). Cigarettes were the most common tobacco type among users (62.1%), which was also statistically significant (p < 0.001). Tobacco users were 3.04 times more likely to have knowledge about oral cancer (OR: 3.04, p < 0.001, 95% CI: 1.93– 4.80), indicating a significant association.Conclusion: The study reveals a general lack of awareness about oral cancer in our study population, particularly regarding specific risk factors. To improve awareness, it is essential for both public awareness campaigns and dentists to play a more active role in educating the public about oral cancer.Keywords: awareness, cigarette smoking, tobacco, oral cancer