Smoking-cessation advice from dental care professionals and its association with smoking status: Analysis of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2015-2018

Abstract

BackgroundSmoking remains a major contributor to mortality and morbidity. Dental care professionals are positioned to help patients quit smoking. Results of clinical trials have shown the efficacy of dental care professionals’ smoking-cessation advice; however, the evidence of its effectiveness in the general population in the United States is limited. The authors examined the association between smoking-cessation advice from dental care professionals and quitting behaviors of adult smokers in the general population. MethodsThe authors used an observational study design with data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for the years 2015 through 2018. The authors included 1,024 respondents 18 years and older who were current or former smokers who quit smoking within the past 12 months and reported a dental visit within the past 12 months. ResultsAmong the study sample, 44.6% received smoking-cessation advice from a dental care professional. The authors found no significant association between smoking-cessation advice and any attempt to quit smoking (as a binary outcome; adjusted odds ratio, 1.11; 95% CI, 0.68 to 1.80; P = .677). Although respondents who received smoking-cessation advice reported 18% more quit attempts (on a continuous scale; adjusted rate ratio, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.00 to 1.39, P = .05), smoking-cessation advice was not associated with smoking abstinence beyond 6 months. ConclusionsReceiving smoking-cessation advice from a dental care professional was associated with more attempts to quit smoking but not with abstinence of 6 months or longer. Practical ImplicationsAdditional efforts seem to be needed for smoking cessation in dental practices. Implementing enhanced incentive programs or promoting tobacco-use cessation certification in dental education may be an effective strategy to enhance dental professionals’ knowledge and skills in providing additional support to their patients.