RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Awareness of head and neck cancers in Saudi Arabia
JF Saudi Medical Journal
JO Saudi Med J
FD Prince Sultan Military Medical City
SP 400
OP 405
DO 10.15537/smj.2020.4.24990
VO 41
IS 4
A1 Alqaryan, Saleh
A1 Aldrees, Turki
A1 Almatrafi, Sharif
A1 Alharbi, Amjad
A1 Alhumaid, Humaid
YR 2020
UL http://smj.org.sa/content/41/4/400.abstract
AB Objectives: To address the gap in knowledge by providing data and analyses of the status of awareness among Saudi adults.Methods: This cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was carried out in Saudi Arabia from August 2018 to August 2019 through social media platforms using SurveyMonkey. The domains of the questionnaire included demographic information, knowledge of types and symptoms of head and neck cancers (HNCs), and the relation of HNCs to human papillomavirus (HPV) and its vaccine.Results: A total of 3171 respondents completed the questionnaire. The analysis revealed that many of the study respondents (49.3%) were not knowledgeable about HNCs. Almost two-thirds (61.2%) of the study population incorrectly believed that brain cancer was included in HNCs. Over half (57.8%) did not recognize headaches as a symptom. In terms of the risk factors, males showed higher awareness of tobacco and excessive alcohol as risk factors, while females were more knowledgeable about HPV infection (p<0.05).Conclusion: This study revealed that there is a lack of knowledge and awareness of the clinical features of and risk factors for HNCs among the Saudi population.