Smoking cessation as a dental intervention--views of the profession.
OBJECTIVE
To undertake a questionnaire-based survey to determine the attitudes and activities of dental professionals in primary care in the Northern Deanery of the UK in relation to providing smoking cessation advice.


METHODS
Questionnaires for dentists, hygienists and dental nurses were sent to hygienists to distribute to other members of the team. The information collected included: smoking status of the professionals and the practice; roles of the dental team in giving smoking cessation advice; levels of training received; and potential barriers to giving this brief intervention.


RESULTS
Over 90% of practices were smoke-free environments and significantly more dental nurses (23%) were smokers compared to dentists (10%) and hygienists (7%) (p<0.01). The majority of dentists and hygienists enquired about smoking status of their patients and all three groups believed that hygienists and dentists should offer brief smoking cessation advice. Potential barriers to delivering smoking cessation advice were identified: lack of remuneration; lack of time; and lack of training.


CONCLUSIONS
Dental teams in primary care are aware of the importance of offering smoking cessation advice and, with further training and appropriate remuneration, could guide many of their patients who smoke to successful quit attempts.
Stacey
F
F
School of Dental Sciences, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Framlington Place, NE2 4BW, UK.
Heasman
P A
PA
Heasman
L
L
Hepburn
S
S
McCracken
G I
GI
Preshaw
P M
PM
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003376:Counseling; D003797:Dental Staff / Q000523:psychology*; D003812:Dentist-Patient Relations; D004498:Education, Dental, Continuing; D005250:Fees, Dental; D006801:Humans; D019239:Practice Patterns, Dentists' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D024382:Professional Role; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017748:Time Management