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Oral Cancer Preventive Practices of South Carolina Dentists and Physicians

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the South Carolina (SC) dentists’ and physicians’ oral cancer knowledge and practices and interest in training in oral cancer screening and tobacco cessation counseling. Method used was a cross-sectional survey of SC dentists and selected physician specialties with responses to mailed questionnaires summarized by descriptive statistics and chi-square tests for comparisons. Overall response rates were 58%for dentists and 44% for physicians. Dentists (81%) and 13% of the physicians reported conduct of oral cancer examinations at least half of the time over the past 12 months. Dentists (41%) and 83% of physicians assisted patients to quit smoking. Few dentists (19%) and 53% of physicians were aware of SC tobacco cessation resources. Dentists (40%) and physicians (37%) were interested in receiving training in oral cancer screening, and 36% and 49%, respectively, in training in tobacco cessation counseling. Results support the development of tailored education for SC dentists and physicians to achieve Healthy People 2010 Oral Health Objectives for Oral Cancer.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the South Carolina Dental Association, the South Carolina Medical Association, and the South Carolina Budget and Control Board Office of Research and Statistics for their support and assistance with this project. We thank the South Carolina dentists and physicians for their time and effort to participate in this survey.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Craniofacial Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, 173 Ashley Avenue, MSC 507, Charleston, SC, 29425-5070, USA

    Susan G. Reed & Nadia G. Duffy

  2. Department of Biostatistics, Bioinformatics and Epidemiology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA

    Susan G. Reed, Kathleen B. Cartmell, Amy E. Wahlquist, Debajyoti Sinha & Anthony J. Alberg

  3. Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA

    Kathleen B. Cartmell, Amy E. Wahlquist, Ashley Bode, Anthony J. Alberg & Terry A. Day

  4. Department of Otolaryngology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA

    Amanda Hollinger & Terry A. Day

Authors
  1. Susan G. Reed
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  2. Kathleen B. Cartmell
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  3. Nadia G. Duffy
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  4. Amy E. Wahlquist
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  5. Debajyoti Sinha
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  6. Amanda Hollinger
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  7. Ashley Bode
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  8. Anthony J. Alberg
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  9. Terry A. Day
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Susan G. Reed.

Additional information

Supported by: CDC grant H75/CCH424532-01.

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Reed, S.G., Cartmell, K.B., Duffy, N.G. et al. Oral Cancer Preventive Practices of South Carolina Dentists and Physicians. J Canc Educ 25, 166–173 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-009-0025-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-009-0025-x

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