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Detection of subjects with oral potentially malignant disorders in a population is key to early detection of oral cancer (OC) with consequent reduction of cancer-related morbidity and mortality. Our aim was to investigate the prevalence and associated risk factors for OPMD in representative provinces of Indonesia. This cross-sectional study was undertaken in five Indonesian provinces: West Java (WJ), Jakarta (JKT), West Papua (WP), West Kalimantan (WK) and Banda Aceh (BA). Respondents answered a previously validated questionnaire including information on ethnicity, occupation, socioeconomic status (SES), oral health practices, and behaviours associated with oral cancer. An oral examination was undertaken using WHO standardized methodology. Data were analysed using ANOVA, Chi-Square, and logistic regression to assess association between risk factors and mucosal disease. A total of 973 respondents between the ages of 17 and 82 years was enrolled (WJ 35.5%,JKT 13.3% WP 18.3%, WK 9%, BA 23.9%). Tobacco smoking (14.8%), Betel quid (BQ) chewing (12.6%) and alcohol drinking (4%) varied geographically. A well-established OPMD was detected in 137 (14.1%) respondents and 2 (0.2%) presented with chronic ulceration later diagnosed as OC. Leukoplakia was the most common OPMD found (9.7%), while the prevalence of oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF), not previously described in the nation, was 2.3%. Poor knowledge of OC risk factors, poor oral hygiene behaviours, low-income SES and ethnicity were significantly associated with the presence of an OPMD. There is a previously under-reported high prevalence of OPMD in Indonesia. Overall, we found a strong correlation between the presence of an OPMD and individual habituation to known risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poor Health Literacy (HL) amongst the public could underly suboptimal acceptance of health promotion and disease prevention advice. This scoping review aimed to investigate any association between the population´s HL and health status centered on Oral Medicine (OM) Studies reporting patients´ HL levels and health outcomes linked to the OM field were selected using Medline/PubMed, Scopus, and Embase databases. Rayyan and EndNote 20 software were used for article selection, and the results were descriptively analyzed. Of the 697 studies, ten assessed patients´ HL, and knowledge/awareness linked to OM conditions. Oral and oropharyngeal cancers have been the most studied pathologies. Low HL levels and sociodemographic factors were associated with knowledge gaps on oral diseases. Furthermore, subjects with limited HL use prevention and oral health promotion services less frequently than the average citizen. Inadequate HL in public at large has been widely researched in the medical and dental field, with most studies showing adverse health consequences. However, further studies are needed on patients with oral and maxillofacial diseases, especially those treated at OM services. There is a need for improved oral HL amongst the public and for improved communication skills between patients and professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]