INTRODUCTION Oral cancer is a life-threatening disease. Lack of public awareness is a potent barrier for the early detection of oral cancer, especially for high-risk populations. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to determine the awareness and knowledge of the signs, symptoms and risk factors of oral cancer among a Siamese ethnic group in Tumpat, Kelantan. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted, using a guided questionnaire on sociodemography, habits, awareness and knowledge of the signs, symptoms and risk factors of oral cancer. Individuals under 18 years old and who had been diagnosed with oral cancer were excluded from this study. RESULTS A total of 195 respondents participated, 61.5% were female and the mean age was 46 (1.64). About 41% of the respondents had received secondary education and 35.4% were illiterate. Most respondents were self-employed (21.5%), followed by farmers (19.5%) and housewives (20%). The majority of them had a monthly income that fell below the poverty level of RM 830 (76.9%). Among the respondents, 22.6% had the habit of smoking, 25.6% consumed alcohol, 8.2% were betel quid chewers and 2.6% chewed tobacco. Out of 195 respondents, only 6.7% were aware of oral cancer. About 16.9% of the respondents correctly answered all of the questions regarding the signs and symptoms of oral cancer and only 4.1% knew the risk factors of oral cancer. CONCLUSION The awareness and knowledge of oral cancer in this targeted population were unsatisfactory. Future effective health promotion programs and education should be emphasised.

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Awareness and Knowledge of Oral Cancer among Siamese Ethnic Group in Tumpat, Kelantan.

Saliva is natural body fluid continuously bathing oral mucosa and its surrounding structure. However, not many studies focusing on changes in salivary parameters and their association with present of oral mucosal lesions. This study was conducted to assess the association between salivary parameters characteristic and present of oral mucosa lesion among Siamese population in Kota Bharu, Kelantan.A cross-sectional study was carried out at fourteen randomly selected Siamese villages located in six districts of Kelantan. A total of 152 respondents' who fulfill inclusion and exclusion criteria was selected using systematic random sampling. Saliva collection procedure and analysis was done using Saliva-Check BUFFER® by GIC Co. Japan. Intraoral examination was done by single examiner, using WHO (1997) guidelines. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 13.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, USA). ISSN:-2321-3485

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MohdZulkarnain Sinor

Papers

Association between salivary parameters and oral mucosa lesions among siamese population in kelantan, malaysia