The Use of Tobacco Cessation Strategies in Academic Dental Settings

Audience: Health Educators

Key Points:

The 2008 U.S. Public Health clinical guidelines emphasize the importance of questioning patients about tobacco use, documenting this information, and providing counseling along with pharmacotherapy, if indicated. A survey instrument was mailed to all 59 U.S. dental schools to determine the extent of patient tobacco use, tobacco cessation strategies in use, and which strategies are perceived as most effective.  Responses were received from 30 dental schools (51% response rate). The results indicate that approximately 25% of patients smoke and 5% of patients use smokeless tobacco. Eighty-six percent of respondents indicate students offer tobacco counseling for patients and the majority of those responding perceive counseling to be the most effective method for cessation. Additionally, there was significant variation in the use of pharmacotherapy for smoking cessation in these patient clinics. Thirteen percent of respondents offer all seven FDA approved options for smoking cessation, 40% offer some but not all approved options, and the remaining 47% offer none of the approved options, but may make referrals. The guidelines suggest that all patients be offered counseling and pharmacotherapy for tobacco cessation unless medically contraindicated or a lack of evidence-based research for using pharmacotherapy exists.

Educational Experience:

Recognize that future health care providers are unlikely to use tested methods for tobacco cessation if their academic training does not emphasize these approaches.

Benefits:

Reinforce the importance of evidence based tobacco cessation strategies outlined by the U.S. Public Health Clinical Guidelines for treating tobacco cessation.