title: Effectiveness of oral health education versus nicotine replacement therapy for tobacco cessation- a parallel randomized clinical trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  India has millions of tobacco users. It is the leading cause of deaths due to oral cancer and hence needs effective strategies to curb it. Hence the aim of present study was to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of Oral Health Education (OHE) and Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) in tobacco cessation.
  
  
  METHODS
  The clinical trial consisted of Manohar Lal Kapoor (MLK) factory workers (n= 40) giving history of tobacco consumption (smoking/smokeless) within past 30 days. They were randomized into OHE (n=20) and NRT (n=20) groups. Baseline evaluation (demographic, smoking/ smokeless behaviour) was done. Fagerstrom test was used for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) and to assess nicotine addiction level. Follow up was done at an interval of 1week, 2 weeks, 1 month, 2 months and 3 months to assess the reduction in the mean FTND score. "Nano-CheckTM Rapid Nicotine test" was used for the qualitative detection of cotinine in human urine. Appropriate statistical analysis was performed (Paired and Unpaired t test).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In both OHE and NRT group there was a significant reduction (p< 0.00001) in mean Fagerstrom score at every follow up but when both the groups were compared mean Fagerstrom score reduction was more in NRT than OHE at all time interval though it was not statistically significant (p>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NRT is better than OHE when both the groups were compared. However, it was found that any intervention given to tobacco users either NRT or OHE is helpful for the patients in the process of quitting tobacco.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Tobacco cessation, nicotine replacement therapy, oral health education, fagerstrom test, urine cotinine.
authors: Senior Lecturer, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Rama Dental College Hospital and Research Centre, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh.
authors: Mitali
authors: M
authors: Raja
authors: Professor and Head, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Sardar Patel Postgraduate Institute of Dental and Medical Sciences, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
authors: Sabyasachi
authors: S
authors: Saha
authors: Reader, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Sardar Patel Postgraduate Institute of Dental and Medical Sciences, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
authors: Vamsi
authors: V
authors: Krishna-Reddy
authors: Reader, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Sardar Patel Postgraduate Institute of Dental and Medical Sciences, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
authors: Shafaat
authors: S
authors: Mohd
authors: Senior Resident, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Post Graduate Institute of Dental Sciences, Rohtak, Haryana.
authors: Ridhi
authors: R
authors: Narang
authors: Assistant Professor, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Dr Harvansh Singh Institute of Dental Sciences and Hospital, Chandigarh.
authors: Poonam
authors: P
authors: Sood