Mark D Macek1, Janet A Yellowitz. 1. Division of Dental Public Health, University of Maryland School of Dentistry, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Smoking and moderate-heavy alcohol consumption are primary risk factors for oral cancer. This report uses national data to test whether adults with these risk factors received oral cancer examinations (OCEs) at a rate consistent with their risk. METHODS: Data from the 2008 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) were used for this analysis. The main outcome variables described lifetime receipt of extraoral or intraoral OCEs. Other variables described health-care visits, as well as the timing of, reasons for, and type of practitioner providing the most recent OCE. Descriptor variables were smoking and drinking status. Covariates included several sociodemographic factors. Weighted bivariate and multivariable analyses were conducted using SUDAAN software. RESULTS: According to the 2008 NHIS, about 34 percent of adults aged 40 years or older reported receiving either an extraoral or intraoral examination during their lifetime. Current smokers were no more likely to have received an OCE than were never smokers, controlling for relevant covariates. Moderate-heavy drinkers and light drinkers were significantly more likely to have received an OCE than were lifetime abstainers. CONCLUSIONS: Current smokers did not receive OCEs at a rate consistent with their increased risk, whereas moderate-heavy drinkers did. One explanation for this finding is that medical and dental visit behaviors indirectly influenced OCE rates. Dentition status played an important role, as having teeth is strongly associated with dental visit behaviors. Health-care practitioners are encouraged to consider the smoking and drinking statuses of their patients when they conduct routine physical examinations of the head and neck.
OBJECTIVES: Smoking and moderate-heavy alcohol consumption are primary risk factors for oral cancer. This report uses national data to test whether adults with these risk factors received oral cancer examinations (OCEs) at a rate consistent with their risk. METHODS: Data from the 2008 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) were used for this analysis. The main outcome variables described lifetime receipt of extraoral or intraoral OCEs. Other variables described health-care visits, as well as the timing of, reasons for, and type of practitioner providing the most recent OCE. Descriptor variables were smoking and drinking status. Covariates included several sociodemographic factors. Weighted bivariate and multivariable analyses were conducted using SUDAAN software. RESULTS: According to the 2008 NHIS, about 34 percent of adults aged 40 years or older reported receiving either an extraoral or intraoral examination during their lifetime. Current smokers were no more likely to have received an OCE than were never smokers, controlling for relevant covariates. Moderate-heavy drinkers and light drinkers were significantly more likely to have received an OCE than were lifetime abstainers. CONCLUSIONS: Current smokers did not receive OCEs at a rate consistent with their increased risk, whereas moderate-heavy drinkers did. One explanation for this finding is that medical and dental visit behaviors indirectly influenced OCE rates. Dentition status played an important role, as having teeth is strongly associated with dental visit behaviors. Health-care practitioners are encouraged to consider the smoking and drinking statuses of their patients when they conduct routine physical examinations of the head and neck.
Authors: Alvin G Wee; Lani M Zimmerman; Carol H Pullen; Carl M Allen; Paul M Lambert; Electra D Paskett Journal: J Cancer Educ Date: 2016-03 Impact factor: 2.037