Oral cancer and oral potentially malignant disorders are a serious
problem worldwide. In India, many people of different states have the
habit of taking tobacco either in smokeable or chewable form. Prevalence
of oral cancer and oral potentially malignant disorders is more in south
Asian countries. Awareness regarding the sign, symptoms and risk factors
of oral cancer is very less in India especially in people with lower
socio-economic status (SES). People who are educated have awareness
about the risk factors but not about the signs and symptoms.Occupation
also had an impact on awareness as well as the habit. Skilled and
unskilled persons had less awareness regarding oral cancer and these
were the people among whom use of tobacco in any form is a part of their
lifestyle. The general awareness of oral cancer was found to be good in
middle aged group followed by the younger group but less in elderly.
According to elderly, television, radio and newspaper were the best
media for awareness but the younger generation chose internet as the
best medium for creating awareness.