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The UK public and healthcare professionals' awareness of mouth cancer

British Dental Journal volume 235, pages 811–815 (2023)Cite this article

Abstract

As the rate of new mouth cancer diagnoses continues to increase in the UK, awareness of risk factors and signs and symptoms remains low. This paper focuses on studies showing UK public awareness of risk factors, including alcohol, tobacco and human papillomavirus, as well as public understanding of signs and symptoms of mouth cancer. It includes a review of the effectiveness of campaigns in raising awareness of mouth cancer and examples of campaigns targeting other common cancers or risk factors that may provide useful learning ahead of upcoming mouth cancer campaigns. In addition, the awareness of the wider healthcare team and the importance of their role in identifying mouth cancer is explored. Current live campaigns in the UK are highlighted ahead of future initiatives now that the Mouth Cancer Action Charter has been launched and two new coalitions have been established.

Key points

  • UK public awareness of mouth cancer risk factors and signs and symptoms remains low, even with an increase in the incidence of mouth cancer.

  • The wider healthcare team's role remains key in identifying early mouth cancer, though there is significant variation in awareness of signs and symptoms.

  • Campaigns to raise public awareness have had mixed success in true behavioural change. The launch of the Mouth Cancer Action Charter and the establishment of two new coalitions provides an opportunity to target this lack of awareness and to implement change.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dental Core Trainee, Barts Health NHS Trust, The Royal London Dental Hospital, Turner Street, London, E1 1FR, United Kingdom

    Danielle Barrett

  2. Consultant in Restorative Dentistry, Dental Core Training Lead for Restorative Dentistry, Barts Health NHS Trust, Royal London Dental Hospital, Turner Street, London, E1 1FR, United Kingdom

    Raj Dubal

  3. Consultant in Restorative Dentistry, Barts Health Trust, Royal London Hospital, Turner Street, London, E1 1FR, United Kingdom

    Claire L. Morgan

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  1. Danielle Barrett
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  2. Raj Dubal
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  3. Claire L. Morgan
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Contributions

Danielle Barrett was main author and literature searcher. Raj Dubal and Claire L. Morgan gave guidance in terms of structure and were contributors and editors to subsequent drafts.

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Correspondence to Danielle Barrett.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Barrett, D., Dubal, R. & L. Morgan, C. The UK public and healthcare professionals' awareness of mouth cancer. Br Dent J 235, 811–815 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-023-6490-5

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