Introduction
Although the overall prevalence rate for oral cancer has dramatically decreased in the last 30 years, it still presents a fundamental health issue due to low survival rates as well as extra social, health, and financial burdens associated with the disease (Meng, Duncan, Porter, Li, & Tomar, 2007). The prevention and early detection of oral cancer are of primary importance in reducing mortality and morbidity rates as the disease is extremely treatable if diagnosed at an early stage (Shepperd, Howell, & Logan, 2014). However, research shows that nearly two thirds of oral cancer cases are still diagnosed at late stages in the United States due to a multiplicity of factors, with the most common being failure to get an oral cancer screening from a professional dentist or physician, lack of awareness on oral cancer, and lack of visual self-examination of the mouth (Meng et al., 2007; Shepperd et al., 2014). This paper discusses the prevention and early detection of oral cancer through the prism of theory of planned behavior.
Theory of Planned Behavior in Prevention and Early Detection of Oral Cancer
Ajzen’s theory of planned behavior (TPB) can be used in explaining the intention of individuals to seek oral health services and in changing their behaviors through focused media campaigns. The theory states that “there are three determinants of intention to perform a behavior, namely attitude toward the behavior, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control” (Mak & Davis, 2014, p. 1502). Attitude toward the behavior concerns the degree or level to which an individual determines the behavior as favorable or unfavorable, while subjective norm concerns the perceived assessment of other individuals as supporting or not supporting the behavior. Perceived behavioral control concerns the perceived degree or level of difficulty in performing the behavior, while intention is described as the readiness or willingness to undertake a certain behavior (Mak & Davis, 2014).
TPB can be used to explain help-seeking intention and behaviors that may be of primary importance in the prevention and early screening of oral cancer. When applied to seeking oral health services and maintaining oral hygiene, for example, attitude toward help-seeking may refer to people’s evaluation of, or their level of openness toward, seeking oral health services and undertaking routine self-examination of the mouth for early detection and prevention of oral cancer (Scott, Weinman, & Grunfeld, 2014). Consequently, intervention strategies for oral cancer should be focused on demonstrating the benefits of early screening and self-examination in order to change the attitudes of people to undertake these behaviors.
The components of subjective norm and perceived behavioral control in the TPB are also important in efforts aimed at the prevention and early detection of oral cancer. Subjective norm is important in reinforcing help-seeking behavior and self-confidence as people are more likely to undertake a behavior when their significant others support such a behavior (Booth, Norman, Goyder, Harris, & Campbell, 2014). Consequently, preventive strategies for oral cancer should always aim at changing the perceptions of community members toward obtaining oral cancer screening and undertaking self-examination as their subjective norm can affect their attitudes as well as their perceived control over seeking oral health services (Asare, 2015). Lastly, perceived behavioral control (the perception of whether an individual is capable of seeking oral health services) may be an important factor in the prevention and early detection of oral cancer because seeking oral health services is not exclusively voluntary and it is dependent on many external factors that include cost, time, knowledge about oral cancer, accessibility of healthcare services, as well as language and cultural proficiency (Mak & Davis, 2014).
Conclusion
This paper has discussed the prevention and early detection of oral cancer through the prism of TPB. Drawing from the discussion, it can be concluded that most theory-driven interventions such as those that use the TPB can be effective in understanding individual behavior and also in reinforcing self-examination and help-seeking behaviors.
References
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