DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2017.v05i06.001

Pages: 2036-2040

Tobacco use is highly prevalent and culturally accepted in India. Oral cavity carcinoma is leading cause of cancer related deaths in India due tobacco addiction. The objectives is to study the knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding tobacco consumption, to identify reasons for initiation and continuation of tobacco use, to determine prevalence of different precancerous lesions, and to develop workplace based tobacco cessation model. An interventional study was conducted amongst the Class IV employees of teaching hospital of Pune city. Pre-tested proforma was used for data collection. Active intervention in the form of awareness lectures, one-to-one counseling was offered to the tobacco users. All the tobacco users went through a medical and oral screening check up and their oral screening results were confirmed. The management of oral lesions was done and simultaneously they were counseled frequently for tobacco cessation at workplace by regular personal visits by the investigators. Total number of 243 employees actively participated in the program. 157 were males and 86 were females. 82 (33.74%) of the employees were tobacco users, among which the smokeless forms were predominant. 63 males and 19 females were using tobacco. Peer pressure and pleasure were the main reasons for initiation of tobacco consumption, and avoiding physical discomfort on quitting and relieving stress were important factors for continuation. Employees had poor knowledge regarding the ill-effects of tobacco. 41 (50%) of tobacco users had oral lesions. Most common oral lesions was oral sub mucous fibrosis (75.61%). The pre lukoplakial (tobacco pouch keratosis) lesion was found to be resolved after 1 month complete tobacco cessation. Peer pressure and relieving stress are main factors for tobacco use. Poor knowledge about ill effects of tobacco was observed.