Perceptions of Private Patients on Dentists Providing Quit Smoking Advice

Objective: The Cochrane Collaboration’s recent review has stated that dentists are in a unique position to help tobacco users who present for dental care by providing assistance to help them stop smoking or using other tobacco products. The aim of this study was to investigate the perception of patients attending private dental clinic on dentists providing quit smoking advice. Method: A cross-sectional study using a self-administered questionnaire was conducted among 15 to 65 years old patients visiting two private dental clinics in Kedah. Descriptive statistics and chi-square test were performed to analyze the data. Result: Out of 169 respondents, 39 were smokers (23.1%), 11 (6.5%) were ex-smokers and 118 (69.8%) were non-smokers. Most patients expected their dentist to be interested in patients’ smoking status (n=126, 74.5%) and to discuss smoking habit with smokers (n=125, 74%). Most of the smokers expected that their dentist to discuss about their smoking habit during their dental visit (n=20, 51.3%) and would appreciate their dentist in helping them to stop smoking (n=27, 69.3%). Conclusion: Patients attending private dental clinics have positive perceptions towards dentists providing quit smoking advice. Private dentists can play an important role in smoking cessation to support tobacco cessation policies and to prevent the uptake of tobacco habits by those who have not yet habituated, particularly children & adolescents.