Learning objectives

Upon completion, the participant will be able to:

1. State current U.S. oral and oropharyngeal cancer incidence, mortality, and the survival gap between early- and late-stage diagnosis.
2. Identify major risk factors for oral and oropharyngeal cancer, including the synergistic effect of tobacco and alcohol and the rising role of HPV.
3. Perform a systematic extraoral and intraoral head-and-neck examination, including lymph node palpation and high-risk site inspection.
4. Recognize the clinical features of suspicious lesions and apply the two-week persistence rule, understanding biopsy as the diagnostic gold standard.
5. Communicate findings to a minimizing patient, document appropriately, and execute a referral within the RDH scope of practice.

Commercial independence & conflict of interest

Belinda Marsh, RDH, the sole instructor and content author, has no relevant financial relationships with any commercial interest to disclose. This course was developed independently, is free of commercial bias, and is not sponsored or influenced by any commercial entity. The provider retains full control of content, scientific integrity, and faculty selection.

References & resources for further study

This course cites current peer-reviewed literature and clinical guidelines throughout, and provides a consolidated reference/evidence-base section within the course for further study. All clinical content is reviewed for scientific accuracy and currency at least every three years.

Participant support & mastery

Ask the author / participant interaction: Questions about course content may be sent to bbomarsh@gmail.com; we respond within two business days.
Technical assistance: bbomarsh@gmail.com.
Mastery & credit: Completion requires viewing the full course and passing the end-of-course assessment. CE credit reflects the estimated time to complete the instructional content and does not include time spent on the assessment.
Refund / cancellation: This course is complimentary; see theRefund & Cancellation Policy. Attendance records are retained for seven years.