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EFFECT OF HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAM AND ORAL SELF-EXAMINATION ON ORAL CAVITY AND OROPHARYNGEAL CANCER AMONG SMOKER STUDENTS AT ASSIUT UNIVERSITY-EGYPT

Research Authors
Soad S. Bayomi 2 and Neama M. Elmaghrabi 3 Marwa M. Kamel 1*
Research Date
Research Journal
COMMUNITY PRACTITIONER
Research Publisher
COMMUNITY PRACTITIONER
Research Vol
21
Research Website
COMMUNITY PRACTITIONER
Research Year
2024
Research_Pages
235-247
Research Abstract

Abstract: Oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer represent the most prevalent cancers in the head and neck region, constituting approximately 25–30% of all malignancies in the oral cavity. This study aims to assess the impact of a health education program and oral self-examination on oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer among student smokers at Assiut University in Egypt. A quasi-experimental research design was employed, involving 925 randomly selected participants from practical and theoretical faculties. Participants received the health education program and data were collected using self-administered knowledge questionnaires and observational checklists before, immediately after, and two months post-intervention. The study encompassed demographic information, students' knowledge about smoking and oral cancers, and an observational checklist for oral self-examination. Results indicated that 55.9% of participants were male, with 19.2% being smokers, and 82% had poor knowledge regarding smoking and oral cancers. The findings suggest that the health education program and oral self-examination significantly improved students' knowledge and practices at both post-test and follow-up assessments.