Dentists' knowledge, case-finding behavior, and confirmed diagnosis of oral cancer.

A questionnaire was developed for dental general practitioners that was used to measure three types of clinician knowledge believed to be central to the early detection and management of oral cancer. Oral cancer management issues (case-finding behavior and clinician knowledge of patient outcomes) were also studied. The hypothesis that clinician knowledge is associated with oral cancer case-finding behavior could not be validated, but the hypothesis that clinician case-finding behavior is associated with knowledge of confirmed oral cancer or precancerous diagnoses was substantiated.