Knowledge about head and neck cancer among adolescents

Objective: To assess knowledge about head and neck cancer among adolescents from private schools, aged between 13 and22 years. Methods: 200 questionnaires were applied among students, about the profile of adolescents and their knowledge about head and neck neoplasms, treatment, and teaching in schoo...

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Main Authors: Vinicius M. Vasconcellos, Leandro Luongo Matos, Flavio Carneiro Hojaij, Edevaldo Miguel Alves, Beatriz Costa N. Martins, Arthur C. Nava
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-07-01
Series:Brazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1808869425000515
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author Vinicius M. Vasconcellos
Leandro Luongo Matos
Flavio Carneiro Hojaij
Edevaldo Miguel Alves
Beatriz Costa N. Martins
Arthur C. Nava
author_facet Vinicius M. Vasconcellos
Leandro Luongo Matos
Flavio Carneiro Hojaij
Edevaldo Miguel Alves
Beatriz Costa N. Martins
Arthur C. Nava
author_sort Vinicius M. Vasconcellos
collection DOAJ
description Objective: To assess knowledge about head and neck cancer among adolescents from private schools, aged between 13 and22 years. Methods: 200 questionnaires were applied among students, about the profile of adolescents and their knowledge about head and neck neoplasms, treatment, and teaching in schools on this topic. The results were analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively. Results: Only 55 students (29.9%) identified HPV as a risk factor for the disease. 137 students (74.5%) identified the brain as an organ treated by head and neck surgery. As for the therapeutic strategies used for the treatment of neoplasms in the region, only 67 students (36.4%) are aware. On the topic of teaching in schools, 153 students (83.1%) relate to some deficiency in the approach and learning. Conclusion: Knowledge about head and neck cancer is insufficient. It is necessary to introduce in the curriculum basic cancer education in biology classes. The expansion of acquirements about cancer can provide better care and the ability to identify risk factors, initial signs, and symptoms of the disease, as well as the incorporation of healthy habits in families because these students can propagate valid information in their environment. Level of evidence: Level IV.
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publishDate 2025-07-01
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series Brazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology
spelling doaj-art-5fc949b98c034cd58056531e3c99d3a42025-08-20T03:32:19ZengElsevierBrazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology1808-86942025-07-019110160810.1016/j.bjorl.2025.101608Knowledge about head and neck cancer among adolescentsVinicius M. Vasconcellos0Leandro Luongo Matos1Flavio Carneiro Hojaij2Edevaldo Miguel Alves3Beatriz Costa N. Martins4Arthur C. Nava5American School of Recife EAR, Recife, PE, Brazil; Corresponding authors.Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, Escola de Medicina, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Faculdade de Medicina (FM), São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Corresponding authors.Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Faculdade de Medicina (FM), São Paulo, SP, BrazilUniversidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE), Recife, PE, BrazilUniversidade Estadual de Pernambuco (UFPE), Recife, PE, BrazilUniversidade Estadual de Pernambuco (UFPE), Recife, PE, BrazilObjective: To assess knowledge about head and neck cancer among adolescents from private schools, aged between 13 and22 years. Methods: 200 questionnaires were applied among students, about the profile of adolescents and their knowledge about head and neck neoplasms, treatment, and teaching in schools on this topic. The results were analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively. Results: Only 55 students (29.9%) identified HPV as a risk factor for the disease. 137 students (74.5%) identified the brain as an organ treated by head and neck surgery. As for the therapeutic strategies used for the treatment of neoplasms in the region, only 67 students (36.4%) are aware. On the topic of teaching in schools, 153 students (83.1%) relate to some deficiency in the approach and learning. Conclusion: Knowledge about head and neck cancer is insufficient. It is necessary to introduce in the curriculum basic cancer education in biology classes. The expansion of acquirements about cancer can provide better care and the ability to identify risk factors, initial signs, and symptoms of the disease, as well as the incorporation of healthy habits in families because these students can propagate valid information in their environment. Level of evidence: Level IV.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1808869425000515Adolescent behaviorHealth knowledgeHead and neck neoplasms
spellingShingle Vinicius M. Vasconcellos
Leandro Luongo Matos
Flavio Carneiro Hojaij
Edevaldo Miguel Alves
Beatriz Costa N. Martins
Arthur C. Nava
Knowledge about head and neck cancer among adolescents
Brazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology
Adolescent behavior
Health knowledge
Head and neck neoplasms
title Knowledge about head and neck cancer among adolescents
title_full Knowledge about head and neck cancer among adolescents
title_fullStr Knowledge about head and neck cancer among adolescents
title_full_unstemmed Knowledge about head and neck cancer among adolescents
title_short Knowledge about head and neck cancer among adolescents
title_sort knowledge about head and neck cancer among adolescents
topic Adolescent behavior
Health knowledge
Head and neck neoplasms
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1808869425000515
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