Diş Hekimine Başvuran Hastalarda Ağız Kanserine Yönelik Farkındalık ve Bilgi Düzeyi

Year 2025, Volume: 7 Issue: 2, 231 - 244, 29.08.2025

Elifhan Alagöz , Nilüfer Karaçay , İrfan Sarıca

Abstract

Amaç: Ağız kanserleri önemli bir küresel sağlık sorunudur. Bu çalışmanın amacı, diş muayenesi için başvuran hastaların oral kanserler, risk faktörleri ve erken belirtiler hakkındaki farkındalık ve bilgi düzeylerini araştırmaktır. Bu araştırma, ağız kanserleri konusunda mevcut farkındalık seviyesini belirleyerek bu konudaki bilgi açığını ortaya koymayı hedeflemektedir.
Gereç ve Yöntemler: Bu kesitsel anket, Ağız Diş ve Çene Radyolojisi Anabilim Dalı'na başvuran 18 yaş ve üzeri hastalar arasında uygulanmıştır. Toplamda 750 katılımcının yer aldığı anket; demografik bilgileri, sigara içme ve alkol alışkanlıklarını, ağız kanserlerinin farkındalığını, ağız kanserinin erken belirtileri hakkındaki bilgiyi ve ilişkili risk faktörlerine yönelik farkındalığı kapsamaktadır.
Bulgular: Katılımcıların %63,7'si kadın, %36,3'si erkektir. Sigara kullanım oranı %31,2, alkol kullanımı ise %14,4 olarak tespit edilmiştir. Katılımcıların %53,4'ünde oral kanser farkındalığı bulunmamaktadır; farkındalığı olanların %21,6'sı medya kaynaklarını, %4,4'ü ise diş hekimlerini bilgi kaynağı olarak belirtmiştir. Sigara içme (%70,4) ve alkol tüketimi (%56,7), iyi bilinen risk faktörleri olmasına rağmen, güneş ışığına maruz kalma (%22,7) ve yaşlılık (%41,2) hakkındaki farkındalık daha düşüktür. Ayrıca, ağız kanserinin erken belirtileri olan iyileşmeyen ülserler (%40,3), kırmızı yaralar (%31,1), beyaz plaklar (%24), uzun süre devam eden şişlikler (%31,5) konusunda da bilgi düzeyi düşüktür.
Sonuç: Bu çalışma, diş hekimlerine başvuran hastalarda oral kanserlerle ilgili farkındalığın düşük olduğunu göstermektedir. Bulgularımız doğrultusunda, medya kullanımı farkındalık artırmada etkili bir yöntem olabilir; ayrıca düzenli diş hekimi kontrolleri de bu farkındalığı artırmada önemli bir rol oynayabilir.

Keywords

Ağız kanserleri , Kesitsel çalışmalar , Farkındalık düzeyi , Risk faktörleri , Erken belirtiler

Awareness and Knowledge Level of Oral Cancer Among Patients Visiting The Dentist

Abstract

Aim: Oral cancers are a significant global health concern. The aim of this study is to investigate the level of awareness and knowledge about oral cancers, their risk factors, and early signs among patients attending dental examinations. This research aims to determine the current level of awareness about oral cancers and to identify gaps in knowledge in this area.
Material and Methods: This cross-sectional survey was conducted among patients aged 18 and above attending the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology. The survey included a total of 750 participants and covered demographic information, smoking and alcohol habits, awareness of oral cancers, knowledge of early symptoms of oral cancer, and awareness of associated risk factors.
Results: The participants consist of 63.7% females and 36.3% males. The smoking rate is 31.2%, and alcohol consumption is 14.4%. 53.4% of participants lack awareness of oral cancer; among those aware, 21.6% cite media sources and 4.4% cite dentists as their information sources. Despite smoking (70.4%) and alcohol consumption (56.7%) being well-known risk factors, awareness regarding sun exposure (22.7%) and aging (41.2%) is lower. Moreover, knowledge about early symptoms of oral cancer such as non-healing ulcers (40.3%), red sores (31.1%), white plaques (24%), and persistent swellings (31.5%) is also low.
Conclusion: This study shows that awareness about oral cancers is low among patients visiting dentists. Consistent with our findings, media usage in this context can be an effective way to increase awareness, while regular dental check-ups can also play a role in enhancing awareness.

Keywords

Oral cancers , Dental examination , Awareness level , Risk factors , Early symptoms.

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