03 May 2021
New Oral Cancer Learning Hub for oral health practitioners
Dentists play a key role in oral cancer prevention, detection and referral. A new evidence-based online training resource developed by Dental Health Services Victoria (DHSV) and the Australian Dental Association Victorian Branch (ADAVB) and other program partners supports this important and potentially life-saving work.
The Oral Cancer Learning Hub was developed by the Victorian Oral Cancer Screening and Prevention Program with funding from the Department of Health, in response to the increase in oral cancer in Victoria. More than 16 Victorians are diagnosed with oral cancer each week on average, with cases rising every year. Oral cancer is now the eighth most common cancer in men and 14th most common cancer in women.
About the Oral Cancer Learning Hub: oralcancerhub.org.au
The Oral Cancer Learning Hub and CPD quiz aims to enhance oral health practitioners’ knowledge, skills and confidence to have discussions with patients about risk factors, identify potentially malignant oral lesions or lumps and refer to specialists for diagnosis and further care.
The Oral Cancer Learning Hub offers:
- Risk and prevention information
- Visual guide to identifying lesions
- Examination resources
- Referral guidance
- Clinical case studies
- Three scientific CPD hours for reviewing content and completing the quiz.
Steps that oral health practitioners can take in their day-to-day practice
Members can refer to the article in the May 2021 edition of the Victorian Dentist for a prevention and detection checklist to routinely incorporate into all patient examinations. A small investment of time can have huge benefits to the patient's health, and even save their life.
Smokefree Smiles
The Smokefree Smiles training module and resources are fantastic tools to support oral health practitioners to have discussions with patients and refer to Quitline. The initiative by Quit, DHSV, ADAVB and the Victorian Department of Health includes online training on Quit’s three step brief advice model – Ask, Advise, Help. This provides structure for a meaningful conversation about smoking that is quick, easy and effective. Brief advice is all about supporting patients to access best practice tobacco dependence treatment (a combination of behavioural intervention through Quitline and smoking cessation pharmacotherapy, such as nicotine replacement therapy).
Find out more
Oral Cancer Learning Hub: oralcancerhub.org.au
For more information about the Victorian Oral Cancer Screening and Prevention Program visit the DHSV website. ADAVB members can also contact the ADAVB Policy Team at advocacy@adavb.org.
The Victorian Oral Cancer Screening and Prevention Program is funded by the Victorian Department of Health as an initiative under the current Victorian Cancer Plan. The program is led by DHSV, in partnership with The University of Melbourne Dental School, the ADAVB and La Trobe University Department of Dentistry and Oral Health.
Smokefree Smiles
Register for free training: education.quit.org.au
Order the resource kit: quit.org.au/resource-order-form
To learn more about Smokefree Smiles visit the DHSV website or email quit.education@cancervic.org.au.
The Smokefree Smiles project was proudly funded and supported by the Victorian Government.
