title: Patient receptivity to tobacco cessation counseling and services in a dental teaching institute: a patient review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The dentists are in a unique position to render tobacco cessation counseling to their patients. The current study is set to assess the attitudes of tobacco users toward tobacco cessation counseling attending a dental teaching institute and hospital in Andhra Pradesh.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic random sampling method was used to select the sample. Survey was conducted among 660 patients attending a dental teaching institute. Patients who have completed oral examination in the department of oral medicine and radiology were asked to complete pretested questionnaire. The questionnaire was designed in both English and Telugu (local language).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the study subjects 88.9% were planning to quit the habit, 72.27% had agreed that they discussed about ill-effects of tobacco, 82% of the subjects said that dentist should routinely offer quit tobacco assistance and services.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study indicates the majority of patients are receptive towards tobacco counseling and services in the dental setting. In this study, the majority of tobacco users were planning to quit. Majority of patients were unaware of the resources available to help them to quit. Dentists have a significant opportunity to disseminate information to patients who need assistance in quitting the habit of tobacco usage.
authors.affiliation: Senior Lecturer, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Kamineni Institute of Dental Sciences, Nalgonda, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Pavan Uday
authors.initials: PU
authors.lastname: Patil
authors.affiliation: Senior Lecturer, Department of Public Health Dentistry, PMS College of Dental Sciences and Research, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vivek
authors.affiliation: Senior Lecturer, Department of Public Health Dentistry, KLR's Lenora Dental College and Hospital, Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Thatimatla
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chandrasekhar
authors.affiliation: Reader, Department of Public Health Dentistry, St. Joseph Dental College, Eluru, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Nalini
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Parimi
authors.affiliation: Senior Lecturer, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Kamineni Institute of Dental Sciences, Nalgonda, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Praveen
authors.affiliation: Senior Lecturer, Department of Public Health Dentistry, KVG Dental College, Sullia, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Sunil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lingaraj
keywords: Data collection; tobacco; tobacco use cessation