Description

Oral cancer and oral potentially malignant disorders are a serious problem worldwide. In India, many people of different states have the habit of taking tobacco either in smokeable or chewable form. Prevalence of oral cancer and oral potentially malignant disorders is more in south Asian countries. Awareness regarding the sign, symptoms and risk factors of oral cancer is very less in India especially in people with lower socio-economic status (SES). People who are educated have awareness about the risk factors but not about the signs and symptoms.Occupation also had an impact on awareness as well as the habit. Skilled and unskilled persons had less awareness regarding oral cancer and these were the people among whom use of tobacco in any form is a part of their lifestyle. The general awareness of oral cancer was found to be good in middle aged group followed by the younger group but less in elderly. According to elderly, television, radio and newspaper were the best media for awareness but the younger generation chose internet as the best medium for creating awareness.