The level of awareness of oral cancer and oral potentially malignant disorders among clinical dental students at International Islamic University Malaysia

The aim of this study is to assess oral cancer and oral potentially malignant disorder (OPMD) awareness among undergraduate clinical dental students in Kulliyyah of Dentistry, International Islamic University Malaysia, as well as to correlate if the year of study has influence on their clinical practice pertaining to the oral cancer and oral potentially malignant disorder (OPMD) detection and prevention. A validated questionnaire which tested oral cancer and oral potentially malignant disorders awareness was given to the clinical dental students, the third, fourth and fifth year students of the Kulliyyah of Dentistry, IIUM. A total of 148 students participated in this survey. Knowledge score of oral cancer and OPMD was generated from correct responses assessed from 41 items in the survey, meanwhile the clinical practice aspect was determined through a score of (0-40). Knowledge scores ranged from 18-41 (mean: 30.29, SD:3.835) where the mean knowledge scores are not significant among the three groups. Attitude scores ranged from 21-38 (mean: 30.05, SD:3.341), where the mean of clinical practice scores is also insignificant among the three groups. The ability and confidence to diagnose and recognize suspicious oral lesions did not correlate with their level of study (r=0.037, p>0.05). Thus, this study justified the importance of continuous clinical exposure and ample clinical practices for dental students to master and improve their knowledge on oral cancer detection and prevention.