Dental professionals’ opinions and knowledge of smoking cessation and electronic cigarettes: A cross-sectional survey in the north of England

TY - JOUR

T1 - Dental professionals’ opinions and knowledge of smoking cessation and electronic cigarettes

T2 - A cross-sectional survey in the north of England

AU - Ahmed, Z.

AU - Preshaw, P. M.

AU - Bauld, L.

AU - Holliday, R.

N1 - Funding Information: Declaration of interests Richard Holliday is funded by a National Institute for Health Research Doctoral Research Fellowship (DRF201508077). This paper presents independent research funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care. None of the authors reports any conflict of interest. Publisher Copyright: © 2018, Nature Publishing Group. All rights reserved.

PY - 2018/11/23

Y1 - 2018/11/23

N2 - Aims To determine the current level of knowledge and opinions of UK dental professionals with regards to smoking cessation and e-cigarettes. Method A self-administered online survey was distributed by postal invitation to all dental practices in the north of England registered on the National Health Service (NHS) Choices website. Findings One hundred and ninety completed questionnaires were received. Seventy-nine percent of respondents reported always enquiring about the smoking status of their patients with 17% completing referrals to a specialist stop smoking service. Just under half of respondents reported not receiving any smoking cessation advice training. Lack of time during appointments, lack of training and lack of perceived interest by patients were reported as the most important barriers. The importance of a lack of remuneration, as a barrier, varied considerably with professional role. Approximately a third (31%) of respondents were of the opinion that e-cigarettes are more or equally harmful than cigarettes with the majority not aware of any guidance documents or recommendations regarding e-cigarettes. Conclusion The majority of dental professionals in the north of England reported providing smoking cessation advice, although only half had training on this. Opinions on electronic cigarettes were mixed, with a third having negative views.

AB - Aims To determine the current level of knowledge and opinions of UK dental professionals with regards to smoking cessation and e-cigarettes. Method A self-administered online survey was distributed by postal invitation to all dental practices in the north of England registered on the National Health Service (NHS) Choices website. Findings One hundred and ninety completed questionnaires were received. Seventy-nine percent of respondents reported always enquiring about the smoking status of their patients with 17% completing referrals to a specialist stop smoking service. Just under half of respondents reported not receiving any smoking cessation advice training. Lack of time during appointments, lack of training and lack of perceived interest by patients were reported as the most important barriers. The importance of a lack of remuneration, as a barrier, varied considerably with professional role. Approximately a third (31%) of respondents were of the opinion that e-cigarettes are more or equally harmful than cigarettes with the majority not aware of any guidance documents or recommendations regarding e-cigarettes. Conclusion The majority of dental professionals in the north of England reported providing smoking cessation advice, although only half had training on this. Opinions on electronic cigarettes were mixed, with a third having negative views.

KW - smoking cessation

KW - e-cigarettes

KW - Dental professionals

KW - barriers to smoking cessation advice (SCA)

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85057135891

U2 - 10.1038/sj.bdj.2018.1026

DO - 10.1038/sj.bdj.2018.1026

M3 - Article

C2 - 30468178

AN - SCOPUS:85057135891

SN - 0007-0610

VL - 225

SP - 947

EP - 952

JO - British Dental Journal

JF - British Dental Journal

IS - 10

ER -