Addressing Tobacco in Managed Care: A Survey of Dentists' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors

Abstract

Tobacco cessation is not a routine part of dental practice. Knowledge, time spent counseling patients, and specific strategies for quitting were associated with dentists' perceptions of success.

Smoking cessation interventions in the Oxford region: changes in dentists' attitudes and reported practices 1996–2001

“…Findings from an American study indicate that dentists who were confident about their smoking cessation knowledge frequently advised patients to quit and spent more time counselling patients about tobacco cessation. 17 Less than 10% of respondents in our survey reported a good knowledge of NRT or Bupropion. There is evidence that NRT improves cessation rates by 1.5 to 2 fold and is largely independent of the intensity of the intervention.…”

Tobacco Cessation Counselling Practices and Attitude among the Dentist and the Dental Auxiliaries of Urban and Rural Areas of Modinagar, India

“…The factors that might have contributed towards the lack of the counselling by the dental professionals includes lack of knowledge and attitude, professional and personal barriers including the lack of professional training, anticipated negative feedback from patients, fear of patients leaving the practice, lack of confidence in their ability and skills to provide effective counselling [19,20].…”

What determines the provision of smoking cessation advice and counselling by dental care teams?

“…cessation counselling in the dental practice (seven items; Cronbach's alpha = 0.83) • Negative attitude (concern about disturbing the patient-dentist relation) 4,13,17 • Lack of knowledge 14,23,26 • Conviction that counselling is unnecessary 4 • Advising frustrates, low success rates 4,13 • Smoking behaviour of the dental professional 13 • Lack of confi dence 14…”