Introduction:

dental care in the elderly is of high interest and less time is devoted to it.

Objective:

to design an educational program about oral cancer aimed at the institutionalized geriatric population.

Methods:

a descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out in the period from January 2018 to February 2019 in a sample of 76 institutionalized geriatric patients belonging to the “Celia Sánchez Manduley” Stomatological Clinic in the City of Santa Clara. The following variables were studied: risk factors, level of information, level of schooling and evaluation by specialists' criteria; the data were collected in a questionnaire.

Results:

deficient oral hygiene and the use and condition of prosthesis were identified as main risk factors, as well as an inadequate knowledge about smoking, the negative effects of alcoholism and oral self-examination with regard to oral cancer.

Conclusions:

patients with an inadequate level of information on oral cancer predominated. An educational program considered relevant, feasible and with quality by the Stomatology Specialists was designed. It was considered that these results were possible due to the strength of the content of the topics offered and the use of innovative participatory techniques; human and material resources were taken into account in each activity implemented in which the promotion and prevention of oral cancer aimed at institutionalized geriatric patients were developed.

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