Evaluating dentists’ attitudes and knowledge about smokeless tobacco and smoking cessation advice for smoking tobacco in India.

Abstract

Background: The background of the research topic, set in public health, focuses on the use of tobacco that as a part of the lifestyle, has become one of the key contributors towards non-communicable disease. The current research intends to look at the attitude and knowledge of Indian dentists pertaining to smokeless tobacco and smoking cessation advice for smoking tobacco. The literature review highlighted empirical studies in various dimensions exposing the smokeless tobacco definition, impact of smokeless tobacco on oral health, impact of smoking cessation, attitude and knowledge of dentists towards tobacco and smokeless tobacco.

Methods: A survey study design with convenient sampling for collecting data from Indian dentists was used. The sample comprised n=63. SPSS was used for data analysis.

Results: The results showed that Indian dentists have substantial knowledge about both smoking and smokeless tobacco usage in the Indian population. They used and extended their existing knowledge level to create and educate Indian dental patients. Irrespective of their smoking status, their professional attitude towards counselling the patient has helped to create interventions that induce benefits. Demographic factors of age, education qualification, smoking status, gender, and work experience have varied relationships that show significance. The analysis showed Indian dentists as the core influencer of dental patients consuming smokeless tobacco products. They induce good oral health hygiene practices and highlight the risks that lead to oral cancer. Successive awareness creation and one-to-one support in the dental setting has helped knowledge dissemination, creating favourable attitudes in Indian dentists, professionalism in upholding the medical oath and deployment of multiple interventions to arrest withdrawal symptoms in Indian patients.

Conclusion: The research showed that Indian dentists’ contribution towards the dental profession in treating Indian patients using smokeless tobacco is professionally handled over time. However, the rise in incidence of cases is not researched in the Indian context. This exposes the research gaps in other areas impacting dental patients’ withdrawal behaviour.