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Increasing Opportunistic Oral Cancer Screening Examinations: Findings from Focus Groups with General Dentists in Puerto Rico

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Abstract

This study aims to identify educational and training modalities that dentists in Puerto Rico (PR) believe will increase the quality and quantity of opportunistic oral cancer screening examinations (OCS) in dental offices on the island. The study was conducted in three phases: a systematic search of relevant literature, an expert review and consensus panel, and focus groups (FG) involving PR general dentists. To increase OCS by dentists in PR, the FG participants proposed a small group, hands-on OCS training, an integrated oral cancer course, and readily available videos, photographs, and computer simulations to further demonstrate OCS performance and facilitate differential diagnosis. OCS training requirements for licensure and re-licensure, improving OCS dentist–patient communication skills, and establishment of an oral lesion referral center were also viewed favorably. In conclusion, general dentists in our FGs believed the quality and quantity of OCS in Puerto Rico can be increased through the application of specific continuing education and training modalities.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the focus group participants for their vital contributions to the study. This investigation was supported by NIH-NIDCR grants no. R21DE019766-01A2 and R21DE019766-01A1S1.

Ethical Standards

This study received IRB approval and was performed in accordance with the ethical standards of the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and later amendments.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lutheran Medical Center, 150 55th street, Brooklyn, NY, 11220, USA

    Walter J. Psoter

  2. Department of Epidemiology & Health Promotion, New York University College of Dentistry, New York, NY, USA

    Douglas E. Morse

  3. Department of Human Development, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico

    Melba Sánchez-Ayendez

  4. Department of Social Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico

    Carmen M. Vélez Vega

  5. Department of Restorative Dental Science, Division of Prosthodontics, University of Florida College of Dentistry, Gainesville, FL, USA

    Maria L. Aguilar

  6. School of Dental Medicine, University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico

    Carmen J. Buxó-Martinez & Augusto Elias

  7. Schow Science Library, Williams College, Williamstown, MA, USA

    Jodi A. Psoter

  8. Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Radiology and Medicine, New York University College of Dentistry, New York, NY, USA

    Alexander R. Kerr

  9. New York University College of Dentistry, New York, NY, USA

    Christina M. Lane & Vincent J. Scaringi

Authors
  1. Walter J. Psoter
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  2. Douglas E. Morse
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  3. Melba Sánchez-Ayendez
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  4. Carmen M. Vélez Vega
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  6. Carmen J. Buxó-Martinez
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  7. Jodi A. Psoter
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  11. Augusto Elias
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Walter J. Psoter.

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Psoter, W.J., Morse, D.E., Sánchez-Ayendez, M. et al. Increasing Opportunistic Oral Cancer Screening Examinations: Findings from Focus Groups with General Dentists in Puerto Rico. J Canc Educ 30, 277–283 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-014-0679-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-014-0679-x

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