The Effect of Training on the Use of Tobacco-Use Cessation Guidelines in Dental Settings

Dr. Margaret Walsh, et al., randomly selected 265 dentists to examine the dentists' self-reported tobacco-use-related attitudes and behaviors and patients' reports of dentists' behaviors. The authors assessed the effects of high-intensity training (HIT) or low-intensity training (LIT) and reimbursement on dentists' attitudes and treatment behaviors.  Results reflected that significantly more dentists in the intervention groups reported having positive attitudes and behaviors at follow-up than did dentists in the control group.  Dentists in the HIT groups reported assessing patients' willingness to quit and assisting them with quitting significantly more often than did dentists in the LIT groups.  Conclusively, dentists trained by workshops or self-study programs were more inclined to use the components of recommended guidelines and felt more positive toward tobacco-use cessation counseling than did dentists who were not trained.  To read full article, click here