KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES OF CROATIAN HOMELAND WAR VETERANS ABOUT ORAL CANCER

Cilj: Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je ispitati znanja i stavove hrvatskih branitelja iz Domovinskog rata o karcinomu usne šupljine. Materijali i metode: U ovom radu provedeno je presječno istraživanje, metodom anketnog upitnika koji je sadržavao 27 pitanja. Anketnim upitnikom prikupljeni su opći podaci i navike ispitanika u prvom dijelu, a u drugom stavovi i znanja o karcinomu usne šupljine. U istraživanju je sudjelovao dobrovoljno ukupno 101 branitelj Domovinskog rata. Podatci su uneseni u program Microsoft Office Excel 2010 te nakon toga obrađeni metodom deskriptivne statistike. Rezultati: Većina ispitanika (63,4 %) svakodnevno konzumira alkohol, a 46,6 % ih puši cigarete, što značajno može pridonijeti razvoju potencijalno malignih promjena u usnoj šupljini. Njihova dob (prosječna dob 54 godine, medijan 52 godine) i spol koji je pretežno muški (74,3 %) također su čimbenici rizika za razvoj oralnog karcinoma. Ispitanici su pokazali loše znanje glede poznavanja rizičnih čimbenika te učestalosti i smrtnosti od karcinoma usne šupljine; 48,5 % ispitanika ne smatra alkohol rizičnim čimbenikom za razvoj oralnog karcinoma, 76,2 % ne povezuje mehaničku iritaciju s razvojem malignih promjena, a 71,3 % ne zna da ultraljubičasto zračenje ima značajan utjecaj na razvoj karcinoma usne. Također su pokazali loše znanje glede poznavanja prvih znakova i simptoma karcinoma usne šupljine, njih 30,7% smatra da su suha usta rani znak, dok pak bolnu promjenu koja krvari i ne zacjeljuje ne smatra ranim znakom njih 13,9%. Zaključak: Ispitanici ne pokazuju zadovoljavajuće znanje o rizičnim čimbenicima za razvoj karcinoma usne šupljine. Također, ne pokazuju zadovoljavajuće znanje o učestalosti i smrtnosti od karcinoma usne šupljine te ne poznaju dobro rane znakove i simptome karcinoma usne šupljine.
Objectives: The aim of this research was to examine the knowledge and attitudes of Croatian Homeland War veterans about oral cancer. Materials and methods: In this study, a cross-sectional survey was conducted by means of questionnaire containing 27 questions. In the first part of the questionnaire, general data and habits of the respondents were collected, while in the second part, their attitudes and knowledge about oral cancer were questioned. A total of 101 Homeland War veterans voluntarily participated in this research. The data were entered into Microsoft Office Excel 2010 programme and then processed with descriptive statistic method. Results: Most respondents (63.4%) consume alcohol on a daily basis and 46.6% smoke cigarettes, which can contribute significantly to the development of potentially malignant transformations in the oral cavity. Their age (average age 54 years, median 52 years) and gender, which is predominantly male (74.3%), are also risk factors for the development of oral cancer. Respondents showed poor knowledge about risk factors and about the incidence and mortality rates of oral cancer; 48.5% of the respondents do not consider alcohol as a risk factor for the development of oral cancer, 76.2% do not associate mechanical irritation with the development of malignant transformations, and 71.3% do not know that ultraviolet radiation has a significant effect on the development of oral cancer. They have also shown poor knowledge of the first signs and symptoms of oral cancer, 30.7 % of them think that dry mouth are early sign of oral cancer while 13.9 % of them do not consider a painful bleeding transformation which does not heal an early sign. Conclusion: The respondents did not demonstrate a satisfactory level of knowledge about risk factors for the development of oral cancer. Furthermore, their knowledge of the incidence and mortality rates of oral cancer alongside with its early signs and symptoms have also proven to be on a rather unsatisfactory level.