Smoking behaviour and attitudes to periodontal health and quit smoking in patients with periodontal disease

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess oral health-related beliefs and attitudes, health behaviour of smokers in relation to the Transtheoretical Model (TTM) of behaviour change, willingness to have smoking cessation provided together with periodontal treatment. Postal questionnaire was sent to 500 referred patients. Part 1 looked at attitudes and beliefs about periodontal disease, Part 2 aimed at current smokers focused on the TTM and smoking cessation. Response rate was 56% (n=277); 67% females, 33% males. Mean age was 44.9 years (SD 12.45); 24.5% current smokers, 30.3% past smokers, 45.5% never smokers. Fewer smokers reported "bleeding gums" (p=0.027), but more smokers reported "having loose teeth" (p=0.016). The TTM stages of change indicated that 31% of current smokers were in pre-contemplation of quitting smoking, 46% were in contemplation and 23% were in preparation. Twenty-three percent of the past smokers were in action and 77% in maintenance. Smokers showed differences in the "self-re-evaluation" (p=0.001) and "self-liberation" (p=0.015) processes of change depending on their stage of change (pre-contemplation or preparation). Nearly half (49%) of the current smokers who wanted to quit requested smoking cessation to be provided alongside their periodontal treatment. A large proportion of periodontal patient smokers may be considering quitting, and nearly half requested provision of smoking cessation intervention in conjunction with the periodontal treatment.