Prevalence and Risk Factors of Oral Cancer Among Dental Students From Two Private Colleges in Pakistan: A Comparative Study

Background: Globally, oral cancer is still a major public health concern, with different lifestyle and socioeconomic variables influencing its occurrence.

Objective: This study compared the prevalence and risk factors of oral cancer among students from private colleges in Pakistan, identifying patterns and variations in risk profiles within this group.

Methodology: This six-month cross-sectional research was carried out at Azra Naheed Dental College and Rahbar College of Dentistry, two private dental institutions in Lahore, Pakistan. Four hundred and thirty students between the ages of 18 and 30 who were split evenly between the two schools made up the sample. A well-structured questionnaire including lifestyle variables, oral cancer awareness, and demographic information was used to gather data. Dental practitioners with training conducted clinical oral exams to look for any indications of oral lesions. The demographic variables were summed up using descriptive statistics, and the relationships between risk factors and the prevalence of oral cancer were assessed using multivariate logistic regression analysis. A p-value of less than 0.05 was used to define statistical significance.

Results: Among the 430 students, 215 were from Azra Naheed Dental College and 215 were from Rahbar College of Dentistry; 12 students (5.58%) at Azra Naheed and 19 students (8.84%) at Rahbar College were found to have oral lesions. Regarding lifestyle factors, 69 students (32.22%) at Azra Naheed and 62 students (28.89%) at Rahbar College reported current tobacco use. Regular betel quid chewing was observed in 93 students (43.33%) at Azra Naheed compared to 77 students (35.56%) at Rahbar College. Dietary habits showed that 148 students (68.89%) at Azra Naheed and 138 students (64.44%) at Rahbar College consumed a diet high in processed foods. The multivariate logistic regression analysis identified significant risk factors for oral cancer, including current tobacco use (odds ratio (OR) = 2.15, p = 0.001), regular betel quid chewing (OR = 2.87, p < 0.001), and a diet high in processed foods (OR = 1.62, p = 0.021).

Conclusion: The research identifies important risk factors for oral cancer among dentistry college students, pointing to the need for focused preventative and educational initiatives to address lifestyle-related concerns.