Attitudes and Practices in Smoking Cessation Counselling among Dentists in Ahmednagar City

Abstract

Background: According to the World Health Organization estimation, tobacco induced diseases are second leading cause of the mortality and fourth most common risk factor for other systemic diseases worldwide. In addition, tobacco is also a primary cause of many oral diseases and condition ranging from mild to life‑threatening, such as stained teeth and restoration, gustatory dysfunction, halitosis, periodontal diseases, poor wound healing, oral premalignant disorders and cancer. All these complications can be avoided by utilizing preventive steps like tobacco cessation by the concerned health care worker. Hence, to assess the attitude of dental health care professionals towards the Tobacco cessation counselling and to identify the possible barriers towards the execution of these practices this study was conducted in the rural and urban areas of Ahmednagar.

Materials and Methods: A pretested, close-ended, self-administered questionnaire was distributed among all 196 dental surgeons in Ahmednagar city. Out of them, 184 dentists filled out and returned the questionnaire.

Results: It was found that Dentists are willing to ask and advise patients about tobacco cessation considering as their responsibility, but are less inclined to assist patients to quit or arrange follow‑up. Dentists are interested to attain further training on tobacco cessation counseling. But, 78.3% feared to an extent about patient leaving their clinic if counseled much causing negative impact on clinical practice. 

Conclusion: The majority of the dentists participated in the study had a positive attitude towards provision of tobacco cessation services. Skill-based approaches may be required to enhance the confidence and competence of the dentists in offering tobacco cessation intervention.