Patient receptivity to tobacco cessation counseling in an academic dental clinic: a patient survey

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated dental patient attitudes towards tobacco cessation counseling in the dental school setting. METHODS: Patients attending an academic dental clinic during a six-week period were asked to complete a 22-item self-administered survey. Means and frequency distributions were assessed on all variables as appropriate. RESULTS: Response rate was 71%. Twenty-nine percent of respondents reported that they currently used tobacco. Seventy-two percent of tobacco users agreed that the student dentist should ask patients whether or not they use tobacco, 67% agreed that the student dentist should advise tobacco users to quit, and 89% agreed that student dentists should offer quit tobacco information to patients who want to quit. Seventy percent of tobacco users were considering quitting or currently trying to quit. Of these, only 31% were aware of community resources to help them quit. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of tobacco users were positive in their attitudes toward delivery of tobacco cessation counseling and services in the dental setting. Many were considering or trying to quit, but few were aware of community resources to help them.