Epidemiology of primary oral cancer diagnostics in Kaunas.

INTRODUCTION: Ability for general practitioners and dentists to successfully identify oral cancer (OC) and knowledge about it has a huge influence in further primary diagnosis and good specialized treatment and care. It is very important to realize what obstacles appear in medical care professionals (dentists and general medical practitioners(GPs)) way for primary oral cancer diagnostics.

PURPOSE: To find out the insight of primary oral cancer diagnostics in Kaunas city.

GOALS: to analise knowledge of society about oral cancer and its primary symptoms; to evaluate and compare the insight of POCD for general medical practitioners and dentists; to appraise the oncological awareness and evaluate the experience in oral oncology for mentioned medical care proffesionals.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Questionnaires were prepared for patients and medical professionals. Permission for investigation was confirmed by LUHS Bioethical centre. Questioning was done in Kaunas city (Lithuania) and its districts.

RESULTS: 100 questionnaires were collected from random people, questioned at health care centers and 106 questionnaires were given to medical staff (64 for dentists and 42 for general medical practitioners); 81% of GPs and 75% of dentists claims to have low insight on POCD; 83,3% of GPs and 46.9% of dentists claims that they have not enough learning experience on POCD from graduated university. Although, only 4,8% of GPs and 6,2% of dentists updated their knowledge on POCD after graduation.

CONCLUSIONS: Society agrees having a poor knowledge on POCD; GPs and dentists are not educated enough for POCD; GPs pay too little attention for oral cavity examinations and are in shortage collaborating with dentists about POCD.