Tobacco Dependence Education in U.S. Dental Assisting Programs’ Curricula

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the level of tobacco dependence education (TDE) in the curricula of U.S. dental assisting programs and to compare the indings to those from a similar assessment of dental hygiene curricula. In the 2012-13 academic year, a 51-item survey was sent to directors of all 298 accredited dental assisting programs. Assessed were curricular TDE content, time spent on each topic, expected levels of clinical competence, and resources used. Of the 298 potential participants, 89 programs returned completed surveys, for a response rate of 30%. Of the 13 TDE-related content areas, those most often covered were oral disease related to tobacco use (100%) and general diseases related to tobacco use (93%); those least often covered were stages of (behavior) change (29%), how to develop a comprehensive tobacco intervention program in a private ofice setting (23%), and strategies for community-based tobacco control (22%). Responding program directors indicated the following levels of tobacco cessation intervention at which students should demonstrate competence: brief, 44%; moderate, 55%; intensive, 8%. Less than half of the reporting programs conducted a formal assessment of clinical competence in any TDE-related skills; however, skills in assessing patient tobacco use and associating head and neck indings to tobacco use were formally or informally assessed by 74% and 61%, respectively. Compared to dental hygiene programs, TDE appeared to play a smaller role in the curricula of dental assisting programs, and dental assisting programs were less likely to formally assess clinical competence in TDE.

Intention to provide tobacco cessation counseling among Indonesian dental students and association with the theory of planned behavior

“…Adequate modifications in the dental education curriculum was recommended to improving dentist's involvement in smoking cessation [23]. Education and are needed for dentists to develop their knowledge and abilities [17,19] and foster positive attitudes toward tobacco cessation counseling (TCC) [24][25][26]. Most dental students are aware that TCC is within the scope of dentist services.…”

Assessment of readiness of dental faculty and students in Kuwait to implement a smoking cessation counseling curriculum

“…These reported barriers are not unique to this study as it has been previously reported that the barriers that preclude dentists and dental hygienists from incorporating tobacco cessation into practice include self-doubt about their knowledge and skills in assisting patients as well as self-doubt about their effectiveness to give quitting advice. [ 17 18 ]…”

“…Studies have reported that although most of the dentists have an encouraging attitude in taking responsibility for smoking cessation, their involvement in cessation counseling is limited, with other reports of an overall feeling of doubt among general dentists about the effectiveness of their smoking cessation advice and lack of confidence. [ 17 ]…”