Primary Care Provider Insight Toward Oral Cancer Screening in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia 2022

Abstract

Background: Oral cancer is a growing public health threat affecting annually more than two million of the global population and the rates are increasing. Also, it is usually diagnosed in advanced stages and carries high morbidity and mortality rates. Proper knowledge of primary healthcare physicians, who usually are in the first line of facing the problem, is the most important factor for ensuring early diagnosis and management. Objectives: To assess the level of oral cancer knowledge, opinions, attitudes, and screening practices among primary care physicians working at primary care centers. Material and methods: An analytical cross-sectional study design was conducted in Jeddah city, Saudi Arabia among currently working Ministry of Health (MOH) primary healthcare (PHC) physicians throughout the study period; 2023-2024. A self-administered validated questionnaire was utilized for data collection. It consists of four main parts: Socio-demographic characteristics of physicians, knowledge, attitude, and practice related to oral cancer questions and statements. Results: The study included 199 physicians. Almost two-thirds (65.8%) were females. Approximately one-fifth (22.1%) were aged between 25 and 30 years and 17.1% were aged over 50 years. History of previous attending training courses in oral cancer screening was reported by 6.5 of the participants. Overall, the total knowledge score ranged between 2 and 14; out of a possible maximum of 15 while the attitude score ranged between 1 and 7; out of a possible maximum of 7, and practice score ranged between 0 and 3; out of a possible maximum of 3. The highest knowledge score was observed among physicians aged over 50 years (mean rank=126.59) whereas the lowest score was observed among those aged between 25 and 30 years (mean rank=81.65), p=0.036. Non-Saudi physicians were more knowledgeable about oral cancer than Saudis (mean ranks were 123.90 vs. 95.08), p=0.007. The highest knowledge score was observed among physicians whose experience in primary healthcare exceeded 10 years (mean rank=110.15) whereas the lowest score was observed among those whose experience was one year or less (mean rank=83.02), p=0.041. Physicians who reported previously attending training courses in oral cancer screening were more knowledgeable about oral cancer and its screening than their peers (mean ranks were 142.77 vs. 97.01), p=0.005. Conclusion: Knowledge of primary care physicians about the risk factors of oral cancer was quite accepted and also, and their attitude toward further training was encouraging. However, few of them had training courses in oral cancer screening and their overall practice regarding oral cancer was not appropriate in many aspects.