208846 Dentists' tobacco control attitudes, behaviors and barriers

Monday, November 9, 2009

Preeti Prakash, BDS, MS , Department of Preventive and Restorative Dental Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
Marilynn Belek, DMD , Delta Dental of California, San Francisco, CA
Richard Meckstroth, DDS , Department of Dental Practice and Rural Health, West Virginia University School of Dentistry, Morgantown, WV
Barbara Heckman, RDH, MS , Department of Preventive and Restorative Dental Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
Jane A. Weintraub, DDS, MPH , Center to Address Disparities in Children's Oral Health, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
Steven J. Silverstein, DMD, MPH , Department of Preventive and Restorative Dental Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
Barbara Grimes, MS, PhD , Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
Stuart A. Gansky, MS, DrPH , Center to Address Disparities in Children's Oral Health, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
Margaret M. Walsh, MS, EdD , Department of Preventive and Restorative Dental Sciences; Center to Address Disparities in Chidren's Oral Health (CAN DO), University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
Objective: To describe the tobacco control attitudes, behaviors and barriers among dentists in California (CA), Pennsylvania (PA) and West Virginia (WV).

Methods: A cross-sectional survey of a random sample of general dentists was conducted from 2004 to 2006 in California, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Dentists were randomly selected from a master Delta Dental provider list. A questionnaire, cover letter, and a stamped return envelope were mailed to 410 dentists.

Results: Of the 410, 265 returned completed questionnaires (42% from CA, 35% PA and 23% WV); 86% were male, 79% were Caucasian and 74% had practiced dentistry for over 15 years. Forty-six percent of the dentists reported they know how to assess patients for tobacco use, 58% felt that it was important/very important as part of their role to intervene with patients' tobacco use, 26% felt well-prepared and 18% felt effective in intervening. Most dentists ‘often or almost always': verbally asked patients about tobacco use (74%) and advised patients to quit (78%). Less than half assessed readiness to quit (19%), assisted patients with quitting (39%), arranged follow-up (4%) and received any formal training in cessation counseling (38%). Strong barriers to providing tobacco use cessation services were patient resistance (65%), lack of insurance reimbursement (56%), not knowing where to refer for care (49%) and lack of time (32%). Conclusion: Although dentists considered their role as important in intervening and asked and advised patients about tobacco use, few felt well-prepared, effective or had formal training in cessation counseling.

Support:NIDCR/NIDAR01DE015691,DeltaDental of California

Learning Objectives:
1.To describe tobacco control attitudes of dentists. 2.To describe tobacco control behaviors of dentists. 3.To identify barriers associated with providing tobacco use cessation services in dental offices.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I was involved in the project and its data analysis
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: Tobacco: Injury & harm, prevention & policy
See more of: Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs