The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #43384

Carol Kunzel, PhD, Don Sadowsky, DDS, MPH, PhD, and Angela Kang. School of Dental and Oral Surgery, Columbia University, 630 W. 168th St., New York, NY 10032, 212-304-7176, ck60@columbia.edu

Objectives: To compare New York City private practice general practitioner dentists’ (GPDs) attitudes and behavior with regard to in-office tobacco cessation counseling and early oral cancer detection. Methods: Data were obtained from a pilot mail survey distributed to a representative sample of GPDs located in NYC during the summer 2000. Seventy (n=70) responses were obtained for a response rate of 70%. A four-page closed-ended mail survey instrument measured dentists’ attitudes and behaviors with respect to tobacco and oral cancer control within the dental office. Results: Forty-one (41%) percent of dental offices almost always/always advise patients who use tobacco products to quit, while 66% percent of dental offices almost always/always perform early oral cancer detection. Forty-six (46%) percent of offices spend, on average, one-two minutes advising patients who use tobacco products to quit, while 25% of offices spend one minute or less. Similarly 50% of dental offices spend one-two minutes performing early oral cancer detection, while 25% spend one minute or less. Forty-six (46%) percent of dentists rate their knowledge about providing smoking cessation counseling as limited, while 3% rate their knowledge about early detection of oral cancer similarly. Ten percent (10%) are very confident in their ability to provide smoking cessation counseling, while 66% are very confident in their ability to perform early oral cancer detection. Conclusions: Contrasts in attitudes and behaviors with regard to tobacco cessation and early oral cancer detection are apparent, although, when performed, the average amount of time spent in both activities is similar.

Learning Objectives:

• To become familiar with rates of tobacco cessation counseling and early oral cancer detection performed in the dental office.
• To learn how much time is spent in such activities.
• To become aware of dentists' feelings of competence and perceived level of knowledge regarding tobacco cessation activities and early oral cancer detection.

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.