Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Dental Surgeon on Oral Cancer in Kinshasa City, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Abstract

Background and aim: Oral cancer remains a public health problem with a high morbidity and mortality rate. The aim of this study was to determine the level of knowledge, attitude and practice of Kinshasa dentists on oral cancer. Patients and Method: This cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted in public and private hospitals in the provincial city of Kinshasa between October 2019 and June 2020. A total of 143 dentists responded to the survey. The questionnaires included knowledge of risk factors, attitude and practice of Kinshasa dentists. Results: The average age of the participants was 34.05 ± 7.31 years, the male gender was the most represented (69.2%), and the level of knowledge of the dentists about the risk factors was low despite the fact that the majority of the participants in the study had recognized alcohol (77.5%) and tobacco (77.6%) as the main risk factors for oral cancer. The majority of the participants referred the patient to a specialist upon discovery of a cancerous lesion, only a minority of dentists performed biopsy and counselling. Conclusion: The level of knowledge of Kinshasa’s dentists about oral cancer is low. Refresher training is necessary to enable them to raise their level of knowledge. Thus, the reinforcement of cancer courses in the dental sector is important for a better management of cancer patient.