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Comparative Study
. 2001 Nov 10;191(9):510-2.
doi: 10.1038/sj.bdj.4801219.

Primary care clinicians' knowledge of oral cancer: a study of dentists and doctors in the North East of England

M Greenwood  1 , R J Lowry
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Primary care clinicians' knowledge of oral cancer: a study of dentists and doctors in the North East of England

M Greenwood et al. Br Dent J. .

Abstract

Objective: To compare the knowledge of oral cancer and related issues of general dental and general medical practitioners (GDPs and GMPs).

Design: A questionnaire was sent to 420 primary care clinicians, half to dentists and half to doctors. Responses to the questionnaire were analysed using odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Results: The response rate was 68.1% for GDPs and 71.9% for GMPs. Dental practitioners were significantly more likely to have diagnosed cases of oral cancer than medical practitioners (OR = 2.68, 95% CI 1.6,4.4). Important differences arose between the groups in terms of risk factor knowledge and clinical examination.

Conclusion: This study demonstrates that whilst the knowledge level of both groups is generally good, there are some discrepancies. These relate mainly to risk factor knowledge and clinical examination techniques.

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