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영어

This study was conducted to address the need to prevent oral cancer and to lower its mortality rate based on the research on the knowledge about oral cancer and on the level of recognition of it. Moreover, the prevention of other diseases related to oral cavities is important for oral healthcare, and to prevent these diseases, the difference between the incidence of oral disease and that of oral cancer based on the degree of knowledge about oral health (i.e., the correlation between oral cancer and the degree of knowledge about oral health) was studied. A total of 298 adults residing in Kangwon Province who agreed to participate in this study were selected as study subjects. Each of them was provided a self-administered survey questionnaire for data research, which he or she was to accomplish within two weeks from September 2014. For the results of the survey, the mean recognition of oral cancer was 19.98±6.59 points, and the mean oral healthcare, 23.49±5.87 points. The acknowledgement of oral cancer was statistically significantly higher at a younger age (F=2.76, p=.042) and with a higher level of education (F=2.62, p=.035). Oral healthcare was significantly higher in the female subjects (t=-3.77, p=.000), in the group with a high level of education (F=5.00, p=.001), in the non-smokers (F=-4.23, p=.000), and in the group with regular exercise (t=4.09, p=.000). The recognition of oral cancer and of the importance of good oral health and of preventing oral-cavity-related diseases showed a statistically significant static correlation. Based on the results of this study, the provision of education on oral cancer is deemed necessary as the recognition of oral cancer declined with a lower age, oral healthcare was well managed in the females, and oral health was good with a higher level of education. Also, the non-smokers had a high level of oral health, and oral health was well managed in the subjects who were exercising regularly.