Oral disease is a disease that causes death.
This is a fact that many people ignore because it's mostly present in third world countries, and poorest populations.
The incidence still remains high.
350.
000 people are diagnosed every year around the globe.
Recent statistics show 350 000 cases in North America alone.
Prognosis is poor and remains unchanged for over three decades due to late detection, therefore compromising treatment.
Current treatment not only affects quality of life for patients but places financial pressure on health systems.
Most early stage cancers and pre-cancers have no symptoms and are detected by health professionals.
However, this is hampered by an inability to reach at risk populations (such as the poor) who are medically under served.
A research was conducted in Vancouver to determine the oral lesions screening needs in poor neighborhoods Although geographically small the population where the research was completed was at high risk for oral cancer, characterized by poverty, tobacco, alcohol and drug use thus creating the need to develop screening strategies that are tailored to this community.
The researcher's first step in developing an oral cancer screening program was to develop an oral medicine service in the area.
It was needed to determine whether a screening program would be appropriate for this population.
The researchers found that the demand for housing exceeds availability and many live in slum hotels that lack basic amenities.
As a result an oral cancer screening led by an oral pathologist was set up within this community.
The dental patients were invited to receive an oral cancer screening and personal and medical data from eligible clients was collected.
The clinical portion of the screening included a head and neck and intra oral visual examination.
The above initiative resulted in 284 patients who attended the clinic with a total of 204 being deemed eligible for an oral cancer screening and 200 being accepted.
Participants were predominantly male, middle aged, white and unemployed.
They were also long time smokers, consumed a large amount of alcoholic beverages, and participated in recreational drug use.
The screening resulted in 61% of patients having a clinical anomaly with 16% of those having white patches (leukoplakia) in the mouth including the presence of mucosal lesions.
77% of the patients with leukoplakia had lesions on the tongue, floor of the mouth and soft palate, all deemed to be high risk sites.
Two patients were confirmed to have cancer following a biopsy, eight with dysplasia (precancerous) and two with a chronic yeast infection.
The researchers found it challenging to reach marginalized individuals, such as those who were part of the downtown Vancouver, due to territorial restrictions and accessibility.
However, the data collected supports the importance of these types and strategies to reach communities that are in high risk This research paper was not only educational but was an interesting read as well.
It was particularly engaging for me because I reside in Vancouver.
Not aware dentally of the issues suffered by this community, the article shed some light into the barriers and challenges faced by those who live in Downtown.
The article was informative and reputable due to those involved and the schools they are supported by.
The most interesting part of the paper was the results of the oral cancer screening.
To read that the majority of the patients (77%) suffered from traumatic mucosal lesions, which were all located in high risk sites, was profound.
Overall the article did not suffer from any weaknesses except that it might have been a bit wordy at times, but is the norm for papers such as this one.
This is a fact that many people ignore because it's mostly present in third world countries, and poorest populations.
The incidence still remains high.
350.
000 people are diagnosed every year around the globe.
Recent statistics show 350 000 cases in North America alone.
Prognosis is poor and remains unchanged for over three decades due to late detection, therefore compromising treatment.
Current treatment not only affects quality of life for patients but places financial pressure on health systems.
Most early stage cancers and pre-cancers have no symptoms and are detected by health professionals.
However, this is hampered by an inability to reach at risk populations (such as the poor) who are medically under served.
A research was conducted in Vancouver to determine the oral lesions screening needs in poor neighborhoods Although geographically small the population where the research was completed was at high risk for oral cancer, characterized by poverty, tobacco, alcohol and drug use thus creating the need to develop screening strategies that are tailored to this community.
The researcher's first step in developing an oral cancer screening program was to develop an oral medicine service in the area.
It was needed to determine whether a screening program would be appropriate for this population.
The researchers found that the demand for housing exceeds availability and many live in slum hotels that lack basic amenities.
As a result an oral cancer screening led by an oral pathologist was set up within this community.
The dental patients were invited to receive an oral cancer screening and personal and medical data from eligible clients was collected.
The clinical portion of the screening included a head and neck and intra oral visual examination.
The above initiative resulted in 284 patients who attended the clinic with a total of 204 being deemed eligible for an oral cancer screening and 200 being accepted.
Participants were predominantly male, middle aged, white and unemployed.
They were also long time smokers, consumed a large amount of alcoholic beverages, and participated in recreational drug use.
The screening resulted in 61% of patients having a clinical anomaly with 16% of those having white patches (leukoplakia) in the mouth including the presence of mucosal lesions.
77% of the patients with leukoplakia had lesions on the tongue, floor of the mouth and soft palate, all deemed to be high risk sites.
Two patients were confirmed to have cancer following a biopsy, eight with dysplasia (precancerous) and two with a chronic yeast infection.
The researchers found it challenging to reach marginalized individuals, such as those who were part of the downtown Vancouver, due to territorial restrictions and accessibility.
However, the data collected supports the importance of these types and strategies to reach communities that are in high risk This research paper was not only educational but was an interesting read as well.
It was particularly engaging for me because I reside in Vancouver.
Not aware dentally of the issues suffered by this community, the article shed some light into the barriers and challenges faced by those who live in Downtown.
The article was informative and reputable due to those involved and the schools they are supported by.
The most interesting part of the paper was the results of the oral cancer screening.
To read that the majority of the patients (77%) suffered from traumatic mucosal lesions, which were all located in high risk sites, was profound.
Overall the article did not suffer from any weaknesses except that it might have been a bit wordy at times, but is the norm for papers such as this one.