How Effective Are We at Taking Alcohol and Tobacco History?

Method: The records for all new patients attending oral surgery and oral medicine clinics over a 3 months period were retrieved. A proforma for each patient recorded the following data: age, sex, referring complaint, clinic attended, rank of clinician treating patient and whether social history was taken. If so, did it include smoking and alcohol data? If so, how were these recorded?

Results: A total of 452 patient records were examined, 245 of which were new patients. 66% of patients were female. Out of the 245 patients only 180 (73%) had any social history recorded of which all included smoking data. However, only 151 (62%) of patients had any Alcohol history recorded. 29% of the patients with a social history were smokers and 9% were Ex-Smokers. The majority of patients (64%, 115 out of 180) who had social history data, regularly consumed alcohol and 3% were Ex-Drinkers.

Conclusion: Oral cancer rates are rising in the UK. Dentists should be involved in both prevention and screening of oral mucosal as well as dental disease. However, given the important influence that tobacco (and to a lesser extent alcohol) can have, the recording of these factors is the first step in helping prevent oral mucosal disease in such patients.