Knowledge, attitude and practice of smoking cessation counseling among dental hygienists in Saudi Arabia.

Areej Alsiwat,Haya Alayadi

doi:10.18332/tpc/145530

Abstract

INTRODUCTIONTobacco has major effects on the oral health of an individual. Dental hygienists play an important role in smoking control by educating and motivating patients and community. The aim of this study is to add more evidence on knowledge, attitude, and practice of smoking cessation counseling among dental hygienists in Saudi Arabia.METHODSThe study is a cross-sectional study, subjects are dental hygienist practitioners in Saudi Arabia employed in either public or private hospitals in 2021. The data collection tool of this study was a semi-structured self-administered questionnaire of 36 questions. The final sample included 80 employed participants.RESULTSKnowledge differed significantly amongst participants according to their educational level, with the highest mean knowledge scores among PhD versus Bachelor’s degree holders [mean (SD) = 27.7 (29.3) vs 21.9 (10.8), p=0.038, respectively]. On the other hand, dental hygienists attitude percentage scores differ statistically by working place; dental hygienists working in public health organization had a score [mean = 74 (8.9)] was higher compared to those in private health organizations [mean = 69.3 (10.8)]. Also, participants attitude percentage mean scores differ statistically by years of experience; the higher the years of experience the higher the dental hygienists’ adaptation of an attitude toward smoking cessation counselling. In terms of dental hygienists practice percentage mean scores, the only statistically significant difference was educational level [Bachelor’s: 64 (17.7); Master’s: 103.3 (17.2); PhD: 108.8 (15.3); p=0.003].CONCLUSIONSDental hygiene practitioners’ level of knowledge is unsatisfactory. Workshops and program training are indeed necessary to increase dental hygiene knowledge leading to effective implementation of smoking cessation counselling.

Highlights

Tobacco has major effects on the oral health of an individual
Thirty (n=30) of the participants were non-employed and as the study purpose was to assess the practice of smoking cessation counselling, we excluded these nonemployed from the analysis
10% of the participants were satisfied with their knowledge regarding smoking cessation counselling

Summary

Introduction

Tobacco has major effects on the oral health of an individual. Dental hygienists play an important role in smoking control by educating and motivating patients and community. The aim of this study is to add more evidence on knowledge, attitude, and practice of smoking cessation counseling among dental hygienists in Saudi Arabia. Tobacco is a risk factor for many diseases that affect overall health, such as cancers of the head, neck, throat, esophagus, and has significant regional effects on the oral health of an individual, including cancer of the mouth, tongue, lips and gums, as well as various dental diseases[1]. To date, smoking cessation has been emphasized as the best practicable way to decrease the risk of the onset and progression of periodontitis and to improve treatment outcomes

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