1. Cues used by dentists in the early detection of oral cancer and oral potentially malignant lesions: findings from the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network.
- Author
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Kerr, Alexander Ross, Robinson, Michael E., Meyerowitz, Cyril, Morse, Douglas E., Aguilar, Maria L., Tomar, Scott L., Guerrero, Lisa, Caprio, Dianne, Kaste, Linda M., Makhija, Sonia K., Mungia, Rahma, Rasubala, Linda, Psoter, Walter J., and National Dental PBRN Collaborative Group
- Abstract
Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the influence of clinical cues on risk assessment of cancer-associated mucosal abnormalities.Study Design: We differentiated lesions with a low risk from those with a high risk for premalignancy or malignancy by using 4 cues: (1) color, (2) location, (3) induration, and (4) pain on exploration. Combinations of color and location were presented through 8 photographs, with induration and pain status variably presented in the standardized history and physical findings. This created 16 clinical scenarios (vignettes) that were permutations of the 4 cues. Three questions assessed the extent to which each cue was used in obtaining a clinical impression as to whether a lesion was benign, premalignant, or malignant.Results: Completed vignette questionnaires were obtained from 130 of 228 invited dentists, (two-thirds males; 79% white; mean age 52 years; average weekly hours of practice 33 hours). Only 40% of the responding dentists had statistically significant decision policies to assign a clinical diagnosis of a lesion as benign, premalignant, or malignant. Lesion location and color were the 2 dominant cues. As a cue, induration was used as a cue by more of the respondents in determining a clinical diagnosis of malignancy, and pain was infrequently used as a cue.Conclusions: Many dentists do not to have a decision strategy for the clinical diagnosis and risk stratification of oral potentially malignant lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2020
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