UICC World Cancer Congress 2006

Objective: Controlled trial was held in three hill districts of Uttar Pradesh (U.P) and Uttaranchal State using school-teachers as master trainers to impart cancer education in rural communities through students.

Methods:145 school biology teachers located in rural areas are given two day training program to identify signs and symptoms of oral cancer and precancerous lesions using audio-visual aids, print materials and case studies. Each of the school teacher, in turn, impart this knowledge to approximately 100 numbers of students of IX-XIth standard. Each of these students educate 10 families on cancer education, in a one year time frame.

Results:This integrated approach over a period of 3 years resulted in a significant reduction in the incidence of sub mucous fibrosis and leukoplakia (1.5% from 2.6%) in the younger generation as diagnosed by the physicians at Primary & District Health Centres (PHC/ DHC). The school children and the educated masses were found to consume less of the oral tobacco products (from 8.6% to 2.2%), which could be one of the major cause for reduction in the cases of sub mucous fibrosis and leukoplakia. Importantly, based on the signs and symptoms, students were able to identify the individuals in the community who were diagnosed cancer patients by the Physicians. The most significant achievement of the study was that the peoples showed improvement in the health seeking behavior this trial. The data therefore demonstrated that school education has an important role to play in tobacco control and cancer prevention in the rural set-up in India.