U.S. adult knowledge of risk factors and signs of oral cancers: 1990.

A sample of U.S. adults were asked questions to assess their knowledge of oral cancer as part of the 1990 Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Supplement of the National Health Interview Survey. Tobacco use was the only risk factor most adults identified correctly. Only 25 percent of those surveyed could identify one sign of oral cancer. Overall, there is extensive misinformation and a general lack of knowledge.