Download PDF
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · South Asian J Cancer 2017; 06(04): 161-164
DOI: 10.4103/sajc.sajc_258_16
Original Article : Head and Neck Cancers

Short message service prompted mouth self-examination in oral cancer patients as an alternative to frequent hospital-based surveillance

Sagar Vaishampayan
Department of Head and Neck Oncology, Tata Memorial Centre, Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra
,
Akshat Malik
Department of Head and Neck Oncology, Tata Memorial Centre, Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra
,
Prashant Pawar
Department of Head and Neck Oncology, Tata Memorial Centre, Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra
,
Kavi Arya
Department of Computer Science and Engineering, n Institute of Technology, Powai, Mumbai, Maharashtra
,
Pankaj Chaturvedi
Department of Head and Neck Oncology, Tata Memorial Centre, Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra
› Author Affiliations Source of Support: Nill.
› Further Information
Also available at
  PDF Download Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

Introduction: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) are amongst commonest cancer in the Indian sub-continent. After treatment, these patients require frequent followup to look for recurrences/second primary. Mouth Self Examination (MSE) has a great potential in all levels of prevention of oral cancer. However, the compliance to self-examination has been reported as poor. Mobile phone is a cheap and effective way to reach out to people. Short Message Service (SMS) is extremely popular can be a very effective motivational and interactive tool in health care setting. Methodology: We aimed to identify in adequately treated OSCC patients, the influence of health provider initiated SMS on the compliance to the MSE and to establish the efficacy of MSE by comparing patients' MSE interpretation via replies to the SMS with that of the experts' opinion on clinical examination status during follow up. Conclusion: We conclude that MSE can be very useful in adequately treated OSCC patients for evaluating disease status. All treated OSCC patients must be adequately educated for MSE as an integral part of treatment & follow-up protocol by the health provider facility. Health provider generated SMS reminders do improve motivation and compliance towards MSE but don't seem to reduce dropouts in follow up for large and diverse population like that in India.

Key words

Mouth self-examination - oral squamous cell carcinoma - short message system - surveillance


Publication History

Article published online:
22 December 2020

© 2017. MedIntel Services Pvt Ltd. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial-License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/.)

Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Pvt. Ltd.
A-12, 2nd Floor, Sector 2, Noida-201301 UP, India

 

  • References

  • 1 Notani PN. Global variation in cancer incidence and mortality. Curr Sci 2001;81:464-74.
  • 2 D.M. Parkin, S.L. Whelan, J. Ferlay, L. Teppo and D.B. Thomas. Cancer Incidence in Five Continents. Vol. 8. Lyon, France: IARC Press; 2002.
  • 3 Mohan M, Jagannathan N. Oral field cancerization: An update on current concepts. Oncol Rev 2014;8:244.
  • 4 Chedid H, Franzi S, Amar A, Lehn C, Rapoport A, Dedivitis R. The follow up for the Locoregional Recurrences of Oral and Oropharyngeal Cancer. Intl Arch Otorhinolaryngol (São Paulo) 2009;13:69-77.
  • 5 Ontario Dental Hygienists' Association. Dental hygiene facts: Oral cancer self examination. Dental Hygienists: Your Partners in Oral Health ODHA. Available from: https://odha.on.ca/your-oral-health/oral-health-facts/. [Last accessed on 2016 Nov 30].
  • 6 Sankaranarayanan R, Ramadas K, Thomas G, Muwonge R, Thara S, Mathew B, et al. Effect of screening on oral cancer mortality in Kerala, India: A cluster-randomised controlled trial. Lancet 2005;365:1927-33.
  • 7 Scott SE, Rizvi K, Grunfeld EA, McGurk M. Pilot study to estimate the accuracy of mouth self-examination in an at-risk group. Head Neck 2010;32:1393-401.
  • 8 Mathew B, Sankaranarayanan R, Wesley R, Nair MK. Evaluation of mouth self-examination in the control of oral cancer. Br J Cancer 1995;71:397-9.
  • 9 Elango KJ, Anandkrishnan N, Suresh A, Iyer SK, Ramaiyer SK, Kuriakose MA, et al. Mouth self-examination to improve oral cancer awareness and early detection in a high-risk population. Oral Oncol 2011;47:620-4.
  • 10 Jimbo M, Nease DE Jr., Ruffin MT 4th, Rana GK. Information technology and cancer prevention. CA Cancer J Clin 2006;56:26-36.
  • 11 Furquim CP, Pivovar A, Cavalcanti LG, Araújo RF, Sales Bonfim CM, Torres-Pereira CC, et al. Mouth self-examination as a screening tool for oral cancer in a high-risk group of patients with Fanconi anemia. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol 2014;118:440-6.
  • 12 Telecom Regulatory Authority of India. TRAI: TRAI Press Release; 2016.
  • 13 Jornet PL, Garcia FJ, Berdugo ML, Perez FP, Lopez AP. Mouth self-examination in a population at risk of oral cancer. Aust Dent J 2015;60:59-64.
  • 14 Greaney ML, Puleo E, Sprunck-Harrild K, Bennett GG, Cunningham MA, Gillman MW, et al. Electronic reminders for cancer prevention: Factors associated with preference for automated voice reminders or text messages. Prev Med 2012;55:151-4.
  • 15 Khokhar A. Short text messages (SMS) as a reminder system for making working women from Delhi breast aware. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 2009;10:319-22.