Perspectives of Maryland dentists on oral cancer.

BACKGROUND: Maryland's mortality rate for oral and pharyngeal cancer is seventh highest overall in the United States, sixth highest for men and third highest for African-American men. As part of a statewide needs assessment and in follow-up to a mail survey of Maryland general dentists, focus groups were conducted to obtain more in-depth information about why dentists do not provide a comprehensive oral cancer examination for most of their patients and how to solve this problem from a dentist's perspective.
METHODS: A trained focus group moderator conducted two focus groups of general practice dentists in two locations in Maryland. Five major themes emerged from the two focus groups: inaccurate knowledge about oral cancer; inconsistency in oral cancer examinations; lack of confidence in when and how to palpate for abnormalities; lack of time to routinely provide oral cancer examinations; and recommendations to help resolve these issues.
CONCLUSIONS: The focus groups provided a rich source of ideas on how to best provide dentists with continuing education about oral cancer prevention and early detection. Participants also provided opinions about the need to improve the public's awareness of oral cancer and its prevention. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Dentists need to include comprehensive oral cancer examinations as part of their routine oral examinations for all appropriate patients.