Perceived severity and health behaviors for oral cancer in Lower Northeastern Region

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the perceived severity and health behaviors for oral cancer. We used a cross-sectional descriptive research design by questionnaire. 137 subjects of this study was conducted: case subjects were newly diagnosed patients of oral cavity cancer at Ear Nose Throat Clinic (ENT) at out -patient department within 6 month before interview and including oral cavity sites C00 to C10 and excluded C07 to C08. Case subjects get in to Sappasitthiprasong Ubonratchathani Hospital between January 2012 and December 2013. And case subjects were confirmed by histopathology records. Interview are reduced by using questionnaires. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, which were presented by frequency and percentage. The results showed that the case subjects are mainly perceived severity for oral cavity cancer as a high level (57.7 percentage). The level of self oral care among case subjects as a lower level (90.5 percentage) . The most case subjects can continue to swallow food, to chew food and to perceived the taste of food as usual (86.9, 65.0 and 45.3 percentage, respectively).