Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41501724›Full record

ArticleBMC oral health2026

Public awareness of oral cancer in Palestine: a web-based cross-sectional survey.

Yahya Kayed AbuJwaid, Zeina M Amro, Amro Odeh, Salahaldeen Deeb, Habeeb H Awwad, Anas K Assi, Raghad Kayed AbuJwaid, Habeba H Awwad, Noura M AbuShama, Zaid Akram Amro and 3 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BMC oral health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Yahya Kayed AbuJwaidFaculty of Medicine, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, 9020000, Palestine. yahey2001@gmail.com.ORCID 0009-0004-6292-1953
Zeina M AmroFaculty of Dentistry, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine.
Amro OdehFaculty of Medicine, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, 9020000, Palestine.
Salahaldeen DeebFaculty of Medicine, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, 9020000, Palestine.
Habeeb H AwwadFaculty of Medicine, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, 9020000, Palestine.
Anas K AssiFaculty of Medicine, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, 9020000, Palestine.
Raghad Kayed AbuJwaidFaculty of Dentistry, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine.
Habeba H AwwadFaculty of Dentistry, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine.
Noura M AbuShamaFaculty of Dentistry, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine.
Zaid Akram AmroFaculty of Dentistry, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine.
Abd Alrahman AmrFaculty of Dentistry, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine.
Alhareth M AmroFaculty of Medicine, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, 9020000, Palestine.
Farid K Abu Sham'aHealth Education and Scientific Research Unit, MOH, Ramallah, Palestine.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundOral cancer remains a major global health concern with low survival in late stages. In Palestine, the burden is amplified by delayed detection and limited healthcare resources, yet public awareness has never been assessed. This study aimed to evaluate knowledge and awareness of oral cancer risk factors, symptoms, and preventive measures among Palestinian adults.

methodsA cross-sectional, web-based survey was conducted between May and August 2025 using an anonymous bilingual (Arabic/English) questionnaire adapted from a validated Middle East-North Africa tool. Palestinian adults aged ≥ 18 years were eligible, excluding health-related professionals and students. Snowball sampling via social media produced 753 valid responses. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and multivariable logistic regression to identify predictors of good knowledge (≥ 4 correct responses per domain).

resultsParticipants were predominantly female (66.3%) and university educated (72.6%). Overall, 46.7% demonstrated good knowledge of risk factors, 32.5% of symptoms, and 53.7% of protective measures. Awareness was highest for tobacco (79.2%) and lowest for HPV infection (38.5%) and alcohol-containing mouthwash (34.1%). Females and university graduates consistently showed better knowledge across all domains (p < 0.001). Current smokers had significantly poorer awareness of risk and protective factors (p < 0.001). Logistic regression identified female gender (OR = 1.59-1.65) and university education (OR = 2.22) as independent predictors of higher knowledge, while current smoking predicted lower protective awareness (OR = 0.65). Receiving oral cancer education from a dentist was the strongest predictor of good knowledge across all domains (risk factors OR = 3.79; symptoms OR = 2.16; protective measures OR = 1.95; all p < 0.01).

conclusionThe surveyed Palestinian sample demonstrated limited awareness of oral cancer, especially regarding symptoms and less-recognized risk factors. Dentist-led education markedly improves knowledge, suggesting that integrating standardized awareness materials into routine dental visits and community campaigns could strengthen early detection and national prevention efforts.

Indexed as

ArabsHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeMouth NeoplasmsAdolescentAdultCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansInternetMaleMiddle AgedMiddle EastMiddle Eastern PeopleRisk FactorsSurveys and QuestionnairesYoung AdultDentist-led educationHPV.Oral cancerPalestinePreventionPublic awarenessRisk factorsSymptoms

Identifiers

PMID41501724
PMCPMC12952068

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.