Factors affecting adoption of tobacco education in dental hygiene programs.
BACKGROUND
Tobacco cessation interventions provided by health care professionals, including dental hygienists can significantly increase the rate of tobacco cessation, yet providers feel inadequately prepared to deliver such interventions.


METHODS
96 dental hygiene faculty completed a survey measuring attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control to determine their influence on teaching and assessing tobacco cessation intervention competencies.


RESULTS
Prior experience with providing tobacco cessation counseling, perceptions of internal confidence and control of barriers were significantly related to covering tobacco-related topics.


CONCLUSIONS
Comprehensive, flexible tobacco education curriculum guides may help faculty overcome barriers to incorporating tobacco education in dental hygiene programs.
Stockdale
Margaret S
MS
Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Carbondale, IL 62901, USA. pstock@siu.edu
Davis
Joan M
JM
Cropper
Martha
M
Vitello
Elaine M
EM
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003756:Dental Hygienists / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D005178:Faculty; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007087:Illinois; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D013663:Teaching; D062789:Tobacco Products