Tobacco use in a dental school patient population

A retrospective study was performed to determine the incidence of tobacco usage and cessation in a dental school patient population. The study was conducted to assess the magnitude of the tobacco problem in a dental school patient population and determine patients' interest and success in cessation. The study reviewed 1,030 randomly selected charts of patients who were seen during 2004. Of these surveys, 1,025 met the study criteria: a medical history form with completed questions concerning tobacco usage. Of the 1,025 surveys reviewed, 565 patients (55%) had used tobacco and 219 (39%) continued to use tobacco products, including 25 current users whose attempts to quit had failed. Surprisingly, 32% of the 219 tobacco users were not interested in quitting. Patients in the 20-29 age group had the highest prevalence of current tobacco users. Tobacco cessation increased steadily with age; the cessation trend was 21% in patients aged 20-29, increasing steadily to 100% prevalence among patients 90 or older. Tobacco usage also was found to be more prevalent among men than among women. Of the total patient population, 25% were current smokers, a percentage well above the national health goal to reduce tobacco usage to 12% by 2010. Dental care providers must work to reduce the percentage of tobacco-using patients by providing cessation information and support.