Assessment of knowledge and awareness among North Indian populations about oral precancerous lesions (OPL): A cross-sectional survey study.

BACKGROUND: A precancerous lesion is a morphologically altered tissue in which oral cancer is more likely to occur than its apparently normal counterpart. They are quite common in the Indian population due to the habitual habit of chewing tobacco. The aim of this study was to evaluate the awareness of oral precancerous lesions by a questionnaire-based survey among the study subjects having been diagnosed with it.

METHODS: In this descriptive study, a structured questionnaire having 11 survey questions has been used to record the response from study subjects who have been diagnosed and reported for treatment for oral premalignant lesions in the Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology. A total of 1013 study subjects were assessed for awareness about OPL and its consequences.

RESULTS: 44.3% of the study population was addicted to smoking tobacco (cigarettes) while 57.9% of study subjects were addicted to non-smoking tobacco (Pan masala). The reason behind their addiction was reported to be stress (54.9%) and workload (25.3%). Most of the study subjects were diagnosed with oral sub-mucous fibrosis (53.4%). 78.6% of study subjects diagnosed with OPL were not aware of it and 94% were willing to quit the addiction.

CONCLUSION: The awareness about OPL among patients was found to be low. Although many wanted to quit their addiction to smoking and chewing tobacco but were unable to do so. So it is a need for time to develop a national policy on tobacco use and related diseases. This policy will definitely reduce the burden of oral premalignant lesions and oral cancer in Indian population.