Horowitz Am, Siriphant P, Canto

¶ … Horowitz AM, Siriphant P, Canto MT, and Child WL. "Maryland dental hygienists' views of oral cancer prevention and early detection." Journal of Dental Hygiene (June 22, 2002).

The article detailed a qualitative survey of dental hygienists in Maryland. It was specifically designed to identify any prevailing themes or issues in relation to their awareness of the prevalence of oral cancers and their familiarity with and use of various preventative practices intended to diagnose oral cancers at the earliest possible point of development. This study was initiated in conjunction with a state-wide effort to collect relevant information about the early detection methods capable of reducing the instance of deaths caused by oral cancers.

The need for the study was based on the high mortality rate associated with oral cancers and the fact that the vast majority of such cancers are only diagnosed in their late stages (by which time they have a low survival rate) and only by physicians after patients present with overt symptoms and complaints of discomfort. The study consisted of two components: 1. A survey of dental hygienists to determine their degree of relevant knowledge and appreciation of the importance of oral cancer screening, and 2. A survey of lay adults to determine the degree of awareness among the general public of the relative dangers of oral cancers and the importance of submitting to regular screening to permit early diagnosis instead of late-stage diagnosis.

According to the article, the research findings revealed the following six major themes: 1. Awareness of Maryland's oral cancer statistics; 2. Level of undergraduate training to provide oral cancer examinations; 3. Provision of these examinations and reasons why they do not provide them; 4. Reactions to the Maryland surveys of dental hygienists and dentists; 5. Assessment of risk factors for oral cancer and patient education activities; and 6. Interest in additional training.

Comments

I selected this article because of the importance of the topic. All too often, the roles and responsibilities of dental hygienists are considered primarily superficial. Meanwhile, dental hygienists are in position to contribute tremendously to patient health and welfare to the extent they perform oral cancer screenings routinely. According to the research findings, adherence to such diagnostic practices is sporadic at best and substantially dependent on time constraints, the focus and instructions of employing dentists, awareness of need and importance of the issue, and lack of adequate awareness training in hygienists' educational programs. The results also indicated that many experienced dental hygienists are among the least likely to focus on oral cancer screening simply because the topic was not regularly covered in dental hygienist training programs until relatively recently. Others expressed frustration that their patients knew so little about the risk of oral cancers and the importance of regular dental checkups for that reason in addition to the more commonly understood reasons (i.e. dental health).