Australian dentists' educational needs for smoking cessation counseling.
BACKGROUND
Australian dentists' continuing educational needs and their attitudes towards and self-reported practices related to smoking cessation counseling were examined.


METHODS
Self-administered questionnaires were received from 149 dentists (83% response rate).


RESULTS
Many dentists were aware that smoking is a risk factor for the development of oral cancer (n = 128, 86%). Most considered smoking cessation counseling to be part of their professional role (n = 105, 70%). However, few "always" asked about the smoking status of their patients (n = 21, 14%). The dentists' use of specific behavioral techniques known to assist patients to quit also was low. Furthermore, the dentists were as likely to use ineffective (advice to "cut down") as effective (advice to "quit") (p > 0.05) strategies. The respondents were significantly more interested in self-help pamphlets for their patients than in either evidence-based guidelines (McNemar's chi2 = 9.76, df = 1, p < 0.01) or a self-study module about smoking cessation (McNemar's chi2 = 42.0, df = 1, p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Continuing education for dentists that combines skills training, patient materials, and epidemiology is likely to be acceptable and effective.
Rikard-Bell
G
G
Needs Assessment and Health Outcomes Unit, Central Sydney Area Health Services, Newtown, Australia.
Ward
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D003815:Dentists; D004498:Education, Dental, Continuing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires