title: Dental patients' perceptions and motivation in smoking cessation activities.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to investigate smokers' perceptions of and motivation for smoking cessation activities in dentistry. MATERIALS AND METHODS PATIENTS: who smoked were consecutively recruited from general as well as specialist dental care clinics in Sweden. After a dental visit the patients completed a questionnaire about self-perceived oral health, smoking habits, motivation, reasons to quit and not to quit smoking, support to quit, smoking cessation activities and questions about smoking asked by dentists and dental hygienists.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sample consisted of 167 adult patients (≥ 20 years) who smoked daily. During the last 6 months, 81% of the patients had experienced oral health problems. The most common complaints were discolourations of the teeth, periodontal problems and dry mouth (38%, 36% and 33%, respectively). Improved general health was a major reason to quit smoking (89%). It was also stated that it was important to avoid oral health problems. 71% of the patients preferred to quit by themselves and 16% wanted support from dentistry. High motivation to quit smoking was reported by 20%. Occurrence of periodontitis during the last 6 months was significantly associated with being highly motivated to stop smoking (OR = 3.0, 95% CI = 1.03-8.55).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study revealed that, although it was important to quit smoking to avoid oral health problems, the patients were not aware that tobacco cessation activities can be performed in dentistry. Periodontal problems seem to be the most motivating factor among the patients who were highly motivated to stop smoking.
authors.affiliation: a School of Health and Society, Kristianstad University , Kristianstad , Sweden ;
authors.forename: Pia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Andersson
authors.affiliation: b Department of Dental Medicine, Division of Periodontology , Karolinska Institutet , Huddinge , Sweden.
authors.forename: Annsofi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Johannsen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003740:Dental Clinics; D003756:Dental Hygienists; D003812:Dentist-Patient Relations; D005260:Female; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D009909:Oral Health; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000523:psychology*; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D014030:Tobacco, Smokeless / Q000009:adverse effects; D014075:Tooth Discoloration / Q000209:etiology; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Oral health complaints; periodontitis; smoking