Longitudinal changes in the quality of life of oral cancer patients during the perioperative period.

BACKGROUND: There are few quality of life (QOL) studies that have focused on the experiences of oral cancer patients. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate how the QOL for patients with oral cancer changed perioperatively. METHODS: Eighty-three participants undergoing radical therapy completed assessments of QOL at pre-treatment, treatment completion, and 1-, 3-, and 6-months post-treatment. The Japanese version of the FACT-H&N, comprising the subscales of "physical well-being (PWB)," "social/family well-being (SWB)," "emotional well-being (EWB)," "functional well-being (FWB)," and "additional head- and neck-specific concerns(HN)" was used to assess QOL. There were two study groups: those who required reconstructive surgery (r+, 31 patients) and those who did not (r-, 52 patients). RESULTS: The FACT-H&N, PWB, FWB, and HN, were lowest at treatment completion due to declines; then, it showed significant improvement over time (p < 0.05). SWB was the highest at the completion of treatment, and thereafter decreased significantly until 3 months after treatment (p < 0.05). EWB was the lowest before treatment but improved over time (p < 0.01). HN was significantly lower at 6 months after treatment than before treatment (p < 0.05). The QOL of the r+ group was significantly lower than that of the r- group (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The treatment-associated declines in subscale area may be compensated for by gains in other subscale areas. Psychological support is better introduced prior to cancer treatment. As it is often difficult to recover from declines in HN functioning subscale, strategies that promote compensation in other areas must be explored. Clinicians should become thoroughly familiar with how patients' QOL changes over time and provide holistic treatments that honor patients' autonomy.

Exploring determinants of care-seeking behaviour of oral cancer patients in India: A qualitative content analysis.

BACKGROUND: A major public health concern in India is the high morbidity and mortality rates of oral cancer because of late diagnosis. Among the several determinants of this late diagnosis, the most important is the healthcare-seeking behaviour of the oral cancer patients. The aim of this study was to explore the care-seeking behaviour and its determinants among oral cancer patients. METHODS: A face-to-face in-depth interview was conducted among 70 oral cancer patients using a semi-structured questionnaire, and qualitative content analysis of the results was performed. RESULTS: All the patients had squamous-cell carcinoma and none had attended any screening programme. The most common site affected was the buccal mucosa with a non-healing wound. Most of the patients contacted a doctor available nearby; only 7% of patients consulted a dentist. Only one patient approached a traditional healer. The median patient delay was 30 (4-365) days and the professional delay was 40 (4-650) days. Enablers included determinants such as increasing symptoms (80%), influence of the society (74%), fear (10%), and social media (3%). The main barriers were lack of awareness (97%), hope that the lesion will heal spontaneously (90%), lack of perception of seriousness (64%), financial constraints (55%), provider switching (47%), and missed diagnosis (44%). CONCLUSION: The care-seeking path among oral cancer patients is complex, customised, and influenced by multiple patient-related and system-related factors.

The Patient Concerns Inventory integrated as part of routine head and neck cancer follow-up consultations: frequency, case-mix, and items initiated by the patient.

Introduction The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance Improving Supportive and Palliative Care for Adults with Cancer (2004) and the Cancer Reform Strategy (2007) support the premise that assessment and discussion of patients' needs for physical, social, psychological, and spiritual wellbeing should be undertaken during oncology follow-up. We report the use of the Patient Concerns Inventory in a routine head and neck cancer clinic setting over a seven-year period, summarising the number of available clinics, the number of patients completing the inventory within a clinic, the range of clinical characteristics and the concerns they wanted to discuss. Methods The data were analysed from oncology follow-up clinics between 1 August 2007 and 10 December 2014. Audit approval was given by the Clinical Audit Department, University Hospital Aintree. Results There were 386 patients with 1198 inventories completed at 220 clinics, median 6 (range 4-7) per clinic. The most common concerns raised by patients across all the clinic consultations were dry mouth (34%), fear of recurrence (33%), sore mouth (26%), dental health (25%), chewing (22%) and fatigue/tiredness (21%). Conclusions The incorporation of the Patient Concerns Inventory as part of routine oncology clinics allows for a more patient initiated and focused consultation available to the majority of patients throughout their follow-up. The inventory allows for greater opportunity to provide holistic targeted multiprofessional intervention and support.

Is routine holistic assessment with a prompt list feasible during consultations after treatment for oral cancer?

The head and neck cancer Patient Concerns Inventory (PCI-HN) is a holistic, self-reported list of items that can help patients to disclose their needs and concerns during routine follow-up consultations. The aim of this study was to report how often it was used during the first three years of follow up after treatment for oral cancer, and the range of issues that were raised. The sample comprised consecutive patients treated over a three-year period with curative intent. All clinic attendances were reviewed until October 2015 or until patients had a recurrence, a subsequent primary, metastases, or were discharged home or to follow up at a peripheral hospital, or started palliative care. We identified 92 patients and data were available for 88 of them. The median (IQR) age at the time of treatment was 65 (57-76) years, and 48 (55%) were men. Reviews alternated between the surgeon and oncologist, and typically there were 4.4 surgical reviews in year one, 2.8 in year two, and 1.6 in year three. The inventory was completed 157 times; at least once by 71% (55/77) during year one, 57% (29/51) during year two, and 37% (13/35) during year three. Of those who completed none, nearly half (7/17) died within 12 months, and another six were over 80 years of age. In conclusion, the diversity of concerns raised by patients highlights the need for holistic assessment during follow up, and integration of the inventory into routine consultations will mean that we can repeat it.

Doctors' tacit knowledge on coping processes of oral cancer patients: A qualitative study.

PURPOSE: The implicit knowledge of doctors about coping, quality of life and factors which have an influence on these aspects were investigated. In addition, they were asked about the need for psychological support in clinical practice. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Doctors (n = 40) working in the field of oral and maxillofacial surgery, otorhinolaryngology and oncology were interviewed about coping and quality of life of patients, the course of therapy and experiences in the doctor-patient interaction based on a semi-structured interview. The data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: Hundred percent of the doctors pointed out that patients with oral cancer are a special clientele which definitely needs to have psycho-oncological support. Eighty seven percent of the doctors divide their patients based on their style of coping into two groups: the one who are depressive and do not cope well and active patients who are able to stand their diagnosis. Ninety five percent of the doctors cite personality and social support as key factors affecting the quality of life and style of coping. Lack of time and lack of support from psychologists were given as the main obstacle for holistic treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Doctors have very specific ideas about the coping mechanisms and problems of their patients. These theories may have an impact on the doctor-patient relationship and should be considered in more detail.

Relevance of psychosocial factors to quality of life in oral cancer and oral lichen planus: a prospective comparative study.

We can improve our understanding of how patients cope with oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) by making a comparison with their processes of coping and those used in other conditions. We have therefore compared quality of life (QoL), severity of symptoms, coping strategies, and factors that influence coping between patients with oral SCC and those with oral lichen planus. We asked 104 patients with oral SCC and 51 with oral lichen planus to complete questionnaires about their coping strategies, social support, locus of control, spirituality, QoL, and severity of symptoms. The outcome was that patients with oral SCC were far more likely to resort to coping strategies such as depressive coping, distraction, and self-motivation. The groups also differed regarding QoL and severity of symptoms. Patients with oral SCC had a poorer QoL and higher depression scores, whereas patients with oral lichen planus had better scores in the social support and spirituality categories. Patients with oral SCC generally had more distress than those with oral lichen planus. Not only did the former resort to depressive coping strategies, but they also had poorer QoL and higher values for depression. For the patients with oral lichen planus, social support and spirituality were protective, whereas they were associated with distress by patients with oral SCC.

Psychosexual therapy and education in patients treated for cancer of the head and neck.

It is now widely accepted that cancer is a chronic disease, and in this context we have previously highlighted shortcomings in the assessment of problems with intimacy and sexuality in patients treated for cancer of the head and neck. In this paper we introduce established strategies for the diagnosis and treatment of psychosexual problems to support these patients, and describe our early experiences of their use. We include brief narratives and case reports to show how they have made a difference to patients and their partners.

Oral cancer knowledge, behavior, and attitude among osteopathic medical students.

Approximately 21,000 osteopathic medical students were enrolled in the USA in 2012-2013. These future physicians are being educated with an emphasis on a holistic or patient-centered approach, with a focus on preventive care. Considering the importance of preventive care and early diagnosis in the outcomes of oral malignancies, our goal in this study was to assess the knowledge, behavior, and attitude of osteopathic medical students in relation to oral cancer. To this end, 204 second-year (Y2) and 194 fourth-year (Y4) medical students were invited to participate in an electronic survey. Forty-one Y2 and 44 Y4 students agreed to participate (20 and 22% response rate, respectively). The results showed that most Y2 and Y4 students were knowledgeable in certain areas (demographic features, important risk factors, and histologic feature), but deficient in others (clinical presentation, association of human papillomavirus (HPV) with oropharyngeal cancers, and screening recommendations). Head, neck, and oral examination habits were reported as being performed occasionally. Overall, students reported feeling uninformed about oral cancer and showed an interest in receiving further education on the subject. Our findings confirm that an overall improvement in oral cancer education in the medical curriculum is needed. Interprofessional collaboration between dental and medical schools may prove to be a valid approach to achieve this goal, which may possibly lead to increased detection of early oral cancerous lesions and, ultimately, improved mortality rates.

An evaluation of the Head and Neck Cancer Patient Concerns Inventory across the Merseyside and Cheshire Network.

The Patient Concerns Inventory (PCI-H&N) is a carefully designed 57-item checklist specifically for use in routine follow-up clinics for patients with head and neck cancer. Although developmental work at one hospital has been very positive, its use had not been evaluated across a wider network. The aim of this project was to evaluate use of the inventory across the Merseyside and Cheshire cancer network. Patients from 5 hospitals were included and 66 patients, 8 doctors, and 6 nurse specialists took part. Almost all patients found the inventory easy or very easy to complete and it caused no notable problems with the running of appointments. Two-thirds felt that all or most of the items mentioned were talked about in the consultations and no patient felt that the consultation had been made worse. Two-thirds felt that it had helped them communicate with the doctor, while some felt that communication was already excellent and beyond improvement. Only a small minority (12%) thought that it could or definitely would lead to disappointment because needs might not be met. Most patients definitely wanted to continue using the inventory and only 5% definitely did not. Most of the doctors and specialist nurses saw its potential benefit in clinical practice. However, some practical, administrative, and educational aspects need to be addressed before it can be used more widely. It is likely that the inventory will be incorporated into practice at each clinic and locality in different ways.

Prospective evaluation of health-related quality of life in long-term oral and oropharyngeal cancer survivors and the perceived need for supportive care.

PURPOSE: To evaluate long-term changes in health related quality of life (HRQOL) in oral/oropharyngeal cancer survivors and their need for and use of supportive care. METHODS: Between 1999 and 2001, 80 advanced oral or oropharyngeal cancer patients treated with free-flap reconstruction and postoperative radiotherapy were included in a prospective study of whom 27 patients were long-term survivors (mean 9.2 years, range 8-11 years). The HRQOL of 26 patients (response rate 96%) was assessed with the EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-H&N35 questionnaires at four points in time: pretreatment (baseline), and at 6 months, 12 months (short term) and 8-11 years (long-term) follow up. A study specific questionnaire was developed to evaluate the need for and use of supportive care (allied health services, peer contact, psychosocial care, and complementary care) and was completed at the period of treatment and at long-term follow up. RESULTS: A number of HRQOL domains worsened significantly (p < 0.01) in the long-term: emotional functioning, social functioning, swallowing, speech, taste/smell, dry mouth, sticky saliva and coughing assessed by the mixed effects statistical model. At time of treatment, the need for supportive care was the highest for a dental hygienist (77%), a physical therapist (73%), a speech therapist (42%), a dietician (38%), and a special diet (62%). At long-term follow up, the need for supportive care was limited to a dental hygienist (46%) and a physical therapist (23%). Only small differences were observed between the perceived need for and actual use of supportive care. CONCLUSION: A range of HRQOL domains in head and neck cancer survivors were deteriorated in the long-term compared to baseline and to the first year after treatment. At time of treatment and less frequently at long-term follow up, patients reported needing and using a variety of supportive care services.

Issues patients would like to discuss at their review consultation: variation by early and late stage oral, oropharyngeal and laryngeal subsites.

PURPOSE: The patient concerns inventory (PCI) was developed to help patients raise issues/concerns during routine follow-up and to indicate team members they want to see. This paper reports the use of the PCI across various H&N Cancer sub-sites (oral, oropharyngeal and laryngeal) and stages of disease (early and late) and describes the main concerns that patients want to discuss using a cross-sectional survey comprising the PCI with the University of Washington Quality of Life questionnaire. Patients treated for primary H&N squamous cell carcinoma, 1998-2009, were identified from the University Hospital Aintree H&N Cancer database. 447/775 (58 %) patients responded. Fear of recurrence concerns was common to all clinical groups (range 32-67 %). Speech issues were more common with laryngeal tumours, and saliva issues with oropharyngeal tumours (32 % early, 48 % late). Apart from early-stage laryngeal tumours, patients consistently reported issues concerning dental health/teeth and chewing. The median (IQR) number of concerns overall was 4 (2-7), with significant variation (p < 0.001) between clinical groups ranging from 2 (1-6) for early-stage oral to 6 (2-10) for late-stage oropharyngeal and 7 (5-9) late-stage laryngeal. The results indicated that PCI can be readily incorporated into managing HNC patients and supports a holistic multidisciplinary approach to clinic consultations. It accommodates difficult issues such as fear of recurrence and intimacy. Completion of the PCI by patients before consultation can highlight problems and concerns that doctors can target for discussion, thereby streamlining consultations, and ensuring that patient needs are better met, thus creating a more effective service.

Treatment referral before and after the introduction of the Liverpool Patients Concerns Inventory (PCI) into routine head and neck oncology outpatient clinics.

PURPOSE: Holistic needs assessment is a key recommendation in improving supportive and palliative care in adults with cancer. The Patients Concerns Inventory (PCI) is a holistic needs assessment tool designed for head and neck cancer survivors in outpatient setting. Routine screening of potential unmet needs in a clinic may result in increased onward referrals, thus placing a burden on existing healthcare services. The aim of this study was to compare the referral trends following consultation in the time periods before and after introduction of PCI in an oncology outpatient clinic. METHOD: A cross-sectional cohort of disease-free survivors of oral/oropharyngeal cancers of a single consultant was prospectively exposed to PCI from July 2007 to April 2009. The PCI is a self-completed questionnaire consisting of 55 items of patient needs/concern and a list of multidisciplinary professionals, whom patients may wish to talk to or be referred to. Retrospective analysis of referral patterns from clinic letters in two periods in the pre-PCI and post-PCI exposure was performed. Prospective analysis of consultations was performed to determine the outcome of PCI-highlighted items. RESULTS: There was no change in the prevalence of onward referral with the introduction of PCI, i.e. 21 referrals per 100 patients seen in outpatients. However, the proportion of referrals to oral rehabilitation and psychological support increased. Referrals to certain services, e.g. speech and language and dentistry, remained consistently in demand. Many PCI-highlighted needs were dealt in a clinic with by the consultant and/or other professionals during a multidisciplinary consultation. CONCLUSIONS: Routine use of PCI promotes target efficiency by directing and apportioning appropriate services to meet the needs for supportive care of head and neck cancer survivors.

Coping processes relevant to posttraumatic growth: an evidence-based review.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to perform an evidence-based review on the quantitative data regarding coping processes related to posttraumatic growth in the field of oncology to facilitate understanding of posttraumatic growth in oral cavity cancer (OCC) patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Pubmed, Medline, and PsycINFO were used for the search and the reference list checked for each selected article. Full articles meeting the inclusion criteria were retrieved. Only English articles were included. RESULTS: The initial search yielded 934 publications; 64 "potentially relevant papers" and 21 "effective" papers formed the basis of this review. Personality traits and social support lead to development of positive coping methods in cancer patients. Overriding influences are benefit finding and meaning making. Specific coping processes were identified to be significantly associated with posttraumatic growth in patients suffering from different cancers and a need for additional prospective research regarding specific processes and outcomes among oral cavity cancer patients. A proposed theoretical model based on the evidence of management of other cancer research fields is suggested for patients with OCC. CONCLUSION: An evidence-based review of coping strategies related to posttraumatic growth was performed which identified key coping strategies and factors that enhance coping processes. A conceptual model of coping strategies to enhance posttraumatic growth in OCC patients based on the scientific evidence attained is suggested to provide a more holistic approach to OCC management.

Nutrient-based dietary patterns and the risk of oral and pharyngeal cancer.

The relationship between diet and oral and pharyngeal cancer has been rarely addressed considering dietary patterns. We examined this issue using data from a case-control study carried out between 1992 and 2005. Cases were 804 incident oral cancers hospitalized in 3 Italian areas. Controls were 2080 subjects hospitalized for non-neoplastic diseases. Dietary habits were investigated through a validated 78-item food-frequency questionnaire. Overall and individual measures of sampling adequacy were calculated to assess if applying a factor analysis or not. A posteriori dietary patterns were identified through a principal component factor analysis performed on a selected set of 29 nutrients. The internal reproducibility, robustness and reliability of the identified patterns were evaluated. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using unconditional multiple logistic regression models on quintiles of factor scores. The measures of sampling adequacy were generally satisfactory. We identified five major dietary patterns named Animal products, Starch-rich, Vitamins and fiber, Unsaturated fats and Retinol and niacin. The Animal products pattern was positively associated with oral cancer (OR=1.56, 95% CI: 1.13-2.15 for the highest vs. the lowest score quintile), whereas the Starch-rich pattern (OR=0.71, 95% CI: 0.50-0.99), the Vitamins and fiber pattern (OR=0.47, 95% CI: 0.34-0.65) and the Unsaturated fats pattern (OR=0.63, 95% CI: 0.45-0.86) were inversely associated with it. These findings confirm that diets rich in animal origin and animal fats are positively, and those rich in fruit and vegetables, and vegetable fats inversely related to oral and pharyngeal cancer risk.

A national survey of oral and maxillofacial surgeons' attitudes towards the treatment and dental rehabilitation of oral cancer patients.

AIMS: To investigate the attitudes of maxillofacial surgeons in the treatment and dental rehabilitation of oral cancer patients in the UK. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The survey was conducted by postal questionnaires with 17 close-ended questions. A total of 229 questionnaires were sent to members of the British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons over a one week period. A follow-up was sent if a reply was not received within 12 weeks. These results were compared to a similar study that was carried out approximately 15 years ago. RESULTS: The response rate was 65.5% (150/229). Overall 62% of respondents (92/150) carried out maxillary resections, which represents a decline of 23% on the previous study. There has been an increase in surgeons reconstructing the maxillary defect from 38% in the 1995 study to 91% in the present study. Ninety-eight percent of respondents had their patients seen in a multidisciplinary team (MDT) clinic, but in only 30% of the cases was a restorative dentist present on these clinics. There has been an improvement in the accessibility of a restorative dentist for this patient cohort, from 65% to 90%. The use of implants for dental rehabilitation post-cancer surgery has increased from 43% to 93%. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the changes in the dental and oral rehabilitation of patients undergoing resective surgery for oral cancer and especially those undergoing a maxillectomy procedure. It illustrates the increased use of implants for post-surgery rehabilitation and shows the different trends in which these implants are placed. An important aspect of this study is the input of the dental team. Current national guidelines state that a consultant restorative dentist needs to be a member of the MDT; this survey shows that this was the case in only 30% of responses.

Using play therapy in paediatric palliative care: listening to the story and caring for the body.

To be truly comprehensive, palliative care for children must address more than pain control and symptom management. Holistic care also encompasses attention to the child's relationships, hopes, fears and wishes. Parents and caregivers of dying children are generally the primary decision-makers in the child's care and can find the transition from active, to palliative care, particularly difficult. Nurses who understand the parents' perspective can better support them. Children reveal their hopes and fears through play. By being attuned to symbols and themes in play, nurses can better interpret the dying child's journey. Nurses can facilitate communication and connection between parents and child and thereby promote healing during the dying process.

The effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on quality of life in oral and oropharyngeal cancer patients treated with radiotherapy.

Radiotherapy is used in the setting of curative treatment for head and neck cancer. Xerostomia and related problems occur when major salivary glands are included in the irradiation fields. This reduces quality of life (QOL). Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is a well accepted treatment or prevention modality for osteoradionecrosis of the jawbones and soft-tissue necrosis. It is unknown if and to what extent HBOT influences xerostomia and xerostomia-related QOL. To address this, a prospective study was conducted. Twenty-one patients who underwent radiotherapy for an oral or oropharyngeal carcinoma completed a European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QOL questionnaire before HBOT, as part of the treatment/prevention of osteoradionecrosis, and 1 and 2 years after HBOT. Swallowing-related problems significantly decreased in time, and there was a reported subjective increase in saliva quantity and an improvement in sense of taste. The results suggest that HBOT may positively influence these long-term radiotherapy sequelae.

Sense of coherence among patients with cardiovascular disease and cancer undergoing surgery.

The sense of coherence (SOC) among patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery was compared with that of patients undergoing surgery for gynecological and oral cancer by using the Japanese version of the SOC questionnaire. The patients in the former group were able to cope with their disease and manage the relationship between their lifestyle and the disease for a long time. Eventually, however, they opted for surgery because they were unable to obtain life insurance if they did not resort to treatments other than medicine. On the other hand, the patients in the latter group had to suddenly deal with a very stressful event (being diagnosed with cancer and having had to undergo surgery). However, their malignant tumors were completely excised during surgery because their cancer was at an early stage. The analysis revealed that the average SOC score of the former group was significantly higher than that of the latter group; furthermore, the score of the latter group was similar to the SOC score of the general population. A multiple regression analysis revealed that the principal determinants of the SOC scores were the diagnosis of the patients (the duration of their struggle with the illness) and their employment status. The SOC of employed persons was higher than that of unemployed persons.

Physiological concentrations of dopamine inhibit the proliferation and cytotoxicity of human CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in vitro: a receptor-mediated mechanism.

OBJECTIVE: Dopamine, a catecholamine neurotransmitter, influences growth and proliferation of lymphocytes. Pharmacological doses of dopamine have been shown to modulate T cell functions significantly, but no information is available on the effect of physiological concentrations of circulating dopamine on CD4+ and CD8+ T cell functions. This information may be of importance since significantly elevated plasma dopamine levels were observed in humans during uncoping stress, and suppression of T cell functions during stress is a well-known phenomenon. However, the mechanism inducing the suppression of T cell functions during stress is not yet clear. In the present investigation, we evaluated the effect of the dopamine level attained in the plasma of individuals with uncoping stress on the proliferation and cytotoxicity of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in vitro. METHODS: T cell subpopulations were separated by panning. The effect of dopamine on IL-2-induced cell proliferation in vitro was evaluated by [3H]thymidine incorporation and cytotoxicity by 51Cr release, receptors by radioligand binding, cAMP by an assay kit and apoptosis by DNA fragmentation. RESULTS: At these elevated physiological concentrations, dopamine was found to inhibit significantly the proliferation and cytotoxicity of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in vitro. This dopamine-mediated inhibition of proliferation was more marked on CD8+ T cells than on CD4+ T cells. The underlying mechanism was found to be D1 class of dopamine-receptor-mediated stimulation of intracellular cAMP. CONCLUSION: Results may be of significance to understand the role of peripheral dopamine in human neuroimmune communication in terms of physiological homeostasis in health and disease.

Alcohol, tobacco and paan use and understanding of oral cancer risk among Asian males in Leicester.

OBJECTIVES: To determine use of alcohol, tobacco and paan among males from the various Asian communities in Leicester; and assess their knowledge and attitudes towards oral cancer risk factors and prevention. Also, to determine any differences regarding habits and attitudes between first and second generation Asians. DESIGN: Volunteers completed a confidential, bilingual questionnaire regarding alcohol, tobacco and paan use and also knowledge about oral cancer risk factors and preventive measures. SETTING: Participants were recruited from sources that included GPs' surgeries, sixth form colleges and places of worship. SUBJECTS: Asian males, i.e. those of Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi or Sri Lankan origin; over the age of 16 years and resident in Leicester. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Quantitative figures were obtained from the questionnaires as to the frequency of alcohol, tobacco and paan use and responses regarding oral cancer knowledge, risk factors and preventive measures. RESULTS: The principal Asian community groups in Leicester were Hindu, Sikh, Muslim and Jain. Significant differences were found in males from these groups with regards to habits and oral cancer awareness. Muslim males use tobacco and paan more than the other groups but avoid alcohol. Sikh males drink more alcohol (especially spirits) than the other groups but their use of tobacco and paan is low. Habits of Hindu and Jain males are variable. However, approximately 10% of both 1st and 2nd generation Hindu males combine all three habits of alcohol, tobacco and paan; and are thus considered to be at high risk of developing oral cancer. Seven percent of 1st generation Hindu males were found to chew paans containing tobacco which are strongly associated with oral cancer. More 2nd generation Jains drank alcohol than the 1st generation, and a greater proportion of Hindu, Sikh and Jain 2nd generation males drink spirits than their older counterparts. Knowledge of oral cancer risk factors and preventive measures were variable, the lowest level of knowledge being among the 1st generation Sikh group. Few volunteers realised the risk of alcohol drinking in the aetiology of oral cancer. CONCLUSION: The 'Asian' community in Leicester is not homogeneous, but consists of distinct community groups; each with their own cultural beliefs, habits and attitudes. Knowledge of these differences can be used to provide appropriate health education programmes suitably targeted to reduce the use of the known risk factors for oral cancer.