Integrating tobacco cessation into routine dental practice: protocol for a qualitative study

Abstract

IntroductionCombined efforts to encompass different aspects of tobacco control have been in place for some time. Despite the recognition of the need to offer support to tobacco users to quit tobacco use, such support remains highly inadequate in India. However, little is known about the practice of oral health professionals (OHP) and the experiences and expectations of dental patients in the context of tobacco cessation (TC) services. In this article, we describe the protocol of a doctoral research project that explores OHPs and their patients in an Indian city. The aims are (A) to understand the functioning of the oral healthcare system towards TC and what changes to it will be needed to benefit TC and (B) to capture the views of dental patients on TC services provided by OHPs.Methods and analysisA cross-sectional qualitative study based on individual interviews with OHPs and dental patients will be carried out in the city of Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. The OHP will be purposively selected from two major organisation types: (1) single-doctor dental clinics and (2) dental hospital attached to teaching institutions. The sample population will be divided into two subgroups: general OHP (dentists practising general dentistry irrespective of their qualification) and prosthodontists (dentists with a specialisation in prosthodontics). We will sample dental patients through convenient sampling from a public teaching hospital and select private dental care facilities. The sampling of OHPs and dental patients will continue until we reach data saturation. Interviews will be audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and coded by hand. The interview transcript will subsequently be analysed using thematic content analysis.Ethics and disseminationThe study received ethical approval from the Institutional Ethical Committee of the Government Dental College and Hospital, Ahmedabad. The findings will be disseminated through conference presentations, peer-reviewed publications and to the study participants.

Smokeless Tobacco Cessation Support in Dental Hospitals in Pakistan: Dentists and Dental Patients’ Perspectives on Current Practices, Support Needed, and Opportunities Available

“…The perceived barriers included a range of influences that have been reported in the literature: Lack of knowledge and skills; lack of time; lack of belief in the effectiveness of dentists’ advice; lack of supporting resources 21 , 29 ; lack of referral systems 30 ; use of ST amongst dentists 21 , 31 and perceived patients’ resistance. 19 , 32 , 33 Junior dentists exhibited greater awareness about tobacco cessation guidelines, in line with another study conducted in England. 29 This can be explained by the recent addition of the requirement for continued medical education or more emphasis on history taking during specialist exams in recent times.…”

“… 16–18 Evidence suggests that oral healthcare providers are willing to offer tobacco cessation support; however, it is seldom practiced. 19 There is a growing body of evidence on the barriers to and facilitators of the implementation of tobacco cessation interventions in routine dental practice. 20–22 This evidence is, however, largely centered on “smoking cessation” with ST receiving little to no attention.…”