Monitoring of Potential Malignant Oral Lesions and Oral Cancer; Touchpoints for Innovations to Improve Oral Healthcare.

INTRODUCTION

Oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) have a high risk for malignant transformation. Currently the gold standard for monitoring of these lesions is through a biopsy. The aim of this study was to identify and explore potential touchpoints based on a service design perspective for improvement of the detection and monitoring of OPMDs and oral cancer.

METHODS

Interviews were conducted in 42 patients (oral leukoplakia (OL) and oral cancer (OC) patients), focusing on experiences within the diagnostic and monitoring process of their (pre)malignant lesions and analyzed through thematic analysis.

RESULTS

The need for innovation was most evident in several critical phases: the initial stage of symptom recognition and referral to a specialist and the ongoing monitoring phase, at the specialist and at home.

CONCLUSION

From a patients' perspective for both OL and OC, touchpoints for innovations are perceived to be mostly needed in the detection phase. This underlines the need for the development of diagnostic tests to support more effective, patient-centered solutions.