Evaluating Oral Visual Inspection in the Control of Oral Cancer

Randomized Intervention Trial to Evaluate Oral Visual Inspection in the Control of Oral Cancer

Cluster-randomized controlled trial in Trivandrum district, Kerala, India to evaluate the effect of triennial screening for oral cavity cancer using visual inspection on oral cancer mortality.

The study population consisted of 13 administrative regions (clusters) in Trivandrum district, Kerala, southern Indian. 7 clusters were randomly assigned to the intervention arm (3 rounds of oral visual inspection conducted 3 years apart) and were compared to the remaining 6 clusters assigned to a control arm that received standard of care. The eligibility criteria were all healthy subjects aged 35 and older, without a personal history of oral cancer. Informed consent was signed by each participant. The intervention arm consisted of 96,517 participants and the control group consisted of 95,356 participants.

Inclusion Criteria: Residing in 13 study clusters in Trivandrum City, Kerala

Exclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosis with oral cancer prior to study
• Bedridden subjects
• Subjects suffering from open tuberculosis or other debilitating diseases