Research abstract
British Dental Journal 201, 109 - 113 (2006)
Published online: 22 July 2006 | doi:10.1038/sj.bdj.4813829
Smoking cessation as a dental intervention — Views of the profession
F Stacey1, P A Heasman2, L Heasman3, S Hepburn4, G I McCracken5 & P M Preshaw6
- The findings of this research confirm that dentists, hygienists and dental nurses appreciate the importance of raising their patients' awareness regarding the role of smoking in dental disease.
- Clinicians may be able to identify their own current barriers to providing smoking cessation advice to patients and then to consider how such barriers may be overcome.
- The paper will hopefully stimulate dentists to consider further training in the area of smoking cessation possibly for themselves and also for other members of their team.
Abstract
Objective To undertake a questionnaire-based survey to determine the attitudes and activities of dental professionals in primary care in the Northern Deanery of the UK in relation to providing smoking cessation advice.
Methods Questionnaires for dentists, hygienists and dental nurses were sent to hygienists to distribute to other members of the team. The information collected included: smoking status of the professionals and the practice; roles of the dental team in giving smoking cessation advice; levels of training received; and potential barriers to giving this brief intervention.
Results Over 90% of practices were smoke-free environments and significantly more dental nurses (23%) were smokers compared to dentists (10%) and hygienists (7%) (p<0.01). The majority of dentists and hygienists enquired about smoking status of their patients and all three groups believed that hygienists and dentists should offer brief smoking cessation advice. Potential barriers to delivering smoking cessation advice were identified: lack of remuneration; lack of time; and lack of training.
Conclusion Dental teams in primary care are aware of the importance of offering smoking cessation advice and, with further training and appropriate remuneration, could guide many of their patients who smoke to successful quit attempts.
- School of Dental Sciences, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Framlington Place, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE2 4BW
- School of Dental Sciences, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Framlington Place, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE2 4BW
- School of Dental Sciences, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Framlington Place, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE2 4BW
- School of Dental Sciences, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Framlington Place, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE2 4BW
- School of Dental Sciences, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Framlington Place, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE2 4BW
- School of Dental Sciences, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Framlington Place, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE2 4BW
Correspondence to: P A Heasman2 e-mail: p.a.heasman@newcastle.ac.uk
