Attitude of Dental Students, Interns and Practicing Dentists Towards Tobacco Use Cessation

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objective To compare dental students’, Interns’, and Practicing Dentist's attitude towards tobacco cessation promotion in dental setting. Methods The study was conducted on BDS 3rd year students, Interns and practicing dentists of Moradabad city. A 23-item written survey was administered to all the participants. Questions focused on dental students’, Interns’, and practicing dentist's attitude towards the dental professional's responsibilities and scope of practice in promotion of tobacco cessation. Results Response rate was more than 90 percent (199/220). Respondents were 52 percent males and 48 percent females. There were 47 percent dental students, 32 percent interns and 21 percent doctors. Eighty-four percent agreed that it is within the scope of dental practice to advise patients to quit using tobacco and 82 percent agreed that tobacco cessation counseling in the dental office could impact patient's quitting. Nearly one-fifth (18 percent) were slightly or not interested in receiving tobacco cessation training. Conclusion Attitudes of the participants appear to be positive regarding the dental professional's responsibility to educate patients about the risk of tobacco use. However, some have reservations about the extent to which tobacco cessation services fit within the scope of dental practice, the efficiency of such services and the patient receptiveness.