Knowledge on oral cancer among dentistry students at Federal University of Maranhão

INTRODUCTION: Oral cancer is a multifactorial disease of high incidence worldwide and considered a public health problem, in which prevention and early diagnosis are the best ways to reverse this situation. PURPOSE: To evaluate the level of knowledge on oral cancer in a population of dentistry students. METHOD: A questionnaire on oral cancer was applied to 150 students from six classes, divided into three groups according to their semesters. The variables studied were statistically analyzed by applying the chi-square test with confidence interval of 95% and significance level of 5%. RESULT: Eighty-eight students (60.61%) considered their level of knowledge on oral cancer good and regular, while 37.93% rated their knowledge as insufficient. Squamous cell carcinoma was listed as the most common cancer by only 38.25% of students, with the highest percentage of correct answers being observed for groups 2 (55.56%) and 3 (67.39%). The level of knowledge on the risk factors increased over the semesters; however, 77.85% considered their level of confidence to perform diagnostic procedures low. CONCLUSION: The level of knowledge on oral cancer was considered good or regular among dentistry students, and although they showed good level of knowledge on the risk factors and to specific issues of the disease, there is a clear need to implement continued educational measures throughout the course to consolidate learning on this disease.