Perceptions of smoking cessation counseling among dental students in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Context: The dental clinic is presumed to be a suitable and practical place for smoking cessation counseling. Clinical dental students have an opportunity to play a crucial role in educating their patients about the impact of smoking and promote their oral and general health. Aims: This study aims to determine the perceptions of clinical dental students toward smoking cessation counseling and the barriers to promote it. Settings and Design: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in July 2017 among clinical dental students and interns of five dental schools. Subjects and Methods: We used a questionnaire derived from a similar study. The online questionnaires were distributed through social media. Statistical Analysis Used: Data analysis was achieved using SPSS 24.0 Mac version (Release 24.0, IBM, USA) through Chi-square test. Statistical significance was considered at P Results: A total of 291 individuals participated in the study. Most of the respondents were nonsmokers (79.4%). In comparison between junior and senior dental students with regard to their perceptions of smoking cessation counseling, it was found that there was no significant difference between the two groups. Most of the respondents were interested in becoming trained on how to assist patients to quit (72.9%). Furthermore, the majority of participants inquired about their patients' smoking status (87.6%). The most frequently cited barrier was lack of training to help patients quit smoking (67%). Conclusions: This study identified the lack of appropriate training and insufficient knowledge toward tobacco use cessation counseling.