Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Regarding Tobacco Cessation Methods among the Dental Professionals: A Cross-sectional Study

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION In India, the proportion of all deaths that can be attributed to tobacco use is expected to rise from 1.4% in 1990 to 13.3% in 2020 .In this regard, health care professionals have a key role to play by working through the health care system to motivate and advise users to quit. AIM AND OBJECTIVES The aim of the present study is to assess the dental students attitude and practice towards tobacco cessation programmes in the dental setting and to explore the influence of knowledge in its promotion. MATERIALS AND METHODOLOGY This cross sectional survey was carried out at the college of dental sciences in davangere among the dental professionals i.e. final year, interns, post graduates students. A questionnaire was designed to test the knowledge, attitude and practice of dental surgeons regarding tobacco use. The self-administered survey included a set of questions .The data were analyzed using the SPSS 22. The chi-squared test was used to test associations between the responses among the age, qualification, and academic year. A critical p-value of 0.05 was regarded as significant. RESULTS A total of 300 questionnaires were distributed, with a response rate of 96.39%. Out of the 250 participants, 54% were females and 46 % were males. About 68% students were in the age group between 20 to 23 years. About 32.4% were pursuing MDS and 67.6% pursuing BDS in the present study. Almost 50% preferred to recommend NRT as a tobacco cessation advise to the patients,48% with self quitting practice and 1.2% with pharmacological methods. DISCUSSION More than half of the respondents had an average level of knowledge on smoking cessation interventions while a majority had a positive attitude towards the provision of smoking cessation interventions. Hence it’s a need of hour to influence the students for generating interest in attaining knowledge about tobacco cessation methods.