Attitudes, Practices and Perceived Barriers in Smoking Cessation among Dentists of Udaipur city, Rajasthan, India

Background: Tobacco is one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality. Tobacco toll in India has one-fifth of all worldwide death attributed to tobacco. There are ۷۰۰۰۰۰ deaths per year due to smoking and ۸۰۰۰۰۰-۹۰۰۰۰۰ per year to all forms of tobacco use of exposure in India. The role of dentist in supporting their patients to quit smoking has been recognized. The present study was conducted to know the attitudes, practices and barriers in tobacco cessation among dentists of Udaipur city (Rajasthan, India). Methods: A pretested, close-ended, self-administered, coded questionnaire was distributed among all the ۲۶۲ dental health practitioners and the teaching staff. Out of ۲۶۲ questionnaires distributed among the dentist, ۱۵۱ dentists filled out and returned the questionnaire. Findings: The majority of the dentists (۹۸.۷%) agreed that it was their responsibility to provide smoking cessation counseling. ۵۴.۳% of dentists agreed that such discussions were too time consuming. ۳۷.۱% thought they lacked knowledge regarding this subject. ۳۵.۸% feared to an extent about patient leaving their clinic if counseled much. Conclusion: In general, the dentists were in favorable attitude in tobacco cessation counseling for the patients; however, the lacks of time and knowledge and to an extent, a fear that the patients would leave their clinic, were the main identified barriers.

کلیدواژه ها:

dentists ، smoking cessation ، attitudes ، Barriers