Role of the dentist in tobacco cessation: a cross-sectional survey

Tobacco use is considered to be one of the five greatest risk factors for mortality worldwide. Visit to a dentist provides an opportunity during which the patient may be willing to accept tobacco cessation advice. The aim of this study was to determine whether patients visiting dental hospitals are provided with tobacco cessation counseling by the dentists. A cross-sectional survey was conducted and the participants were interviewed according to a self-developed closed questionnaire. The study population comprised of tobacco users reporting to the dental hospitals of Peshawar. 152 tobacco users were interviewed. Data analyses were performed using SPSS version 16. Most of the study participants [64.5%] were never advised by their dentist to quit tobacco use. Only 19.1% of the subjects considered it a duty of the dentist to play a role in tobacco cessation. Twenty four percent of the participants believed that tobacco cessation counseling from a dentist may be more successful than general physicians. Only 23% believed that advice or assistance by dentist may be helpful in tobacco cessation. Among the subjects who were advised to quit tobacco, 93% made an attempt to quit but only 20% were able to successfully quit. It was concluded that dentists can play an influential role in tobacco cessation provided they are properly educated and trained in tobacco cessation counseling and interventions