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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Jan K. Carney, MD, MPH, Karen M. Garbarino, BS, MPA, and Roger T. Ivey, DDS. Vermont Department of Health, 108 Cherry Street, PO Box 70, Burlington, VT 05401
Vermont has set a goal of reducing smoking by 50 percent by the year 2010. Dental health professionals play a critical role in tobacco prevention and cessation because of their regular contact with patients and their educational focus. In 2000 the Vermont State Dental Society (VSDS) convened an advisory committee about tobacco. With health department funds from the 1998 tobacco Master Settlement Agreement, an initiative was developed by the VSDS to provide on-site training to dental practices in tobacco prevention and cessation. The project began with the development of a prevention curriculum addressing the needs of Vermont dental professionals, which includes lectures, slide presentations and written materials. Nine specially trained dental health professionals recruited local practices and conducted office-based tobacco training throughout the state. Office staff received continuing education credits to ensure high levels of participation. Since the project began, 250 dental office staff have been trained. Approximately 50 percent of all dental practices in Vermont will have staff trained in tobacco prevention and cessation by December 2002. This program represents a low-cost, practical method to include dental health professionals in statewide tobacco prevention and control efforts.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Oral Health, Tobacco Control
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.