A survey of oral surgeons’ tobacco-use-related knowledge and intervention behaviors

OBJECTIVES To evaluate whether oral surgeons are aware of tobacco' s role in oral health. Moreover, we wanted to know professionals' attitudes towards smoker patients and physicians' involvement in detecting and eradicating this habit in patients. STUDY DESIGN We conducted a survey to determine the awareness of the members of the Spanish Society of Oral Surgery about tobacco' s damage on oral health and the role of dentists in the prevention and elimination of the smoking habit. RESULTS 450 surveys were distributed during the Seventh National Congress of the Spanish Society of Oral Surgery, of which 224 (49.8%) were answered. Seventy-six point eight percent of oral surgeons said that they have a good knowledge of the effects of snuff on oral health. However, only 42.9% admitted they had received specific training regarding how to deal with patients who want to give up smoking. Sixty-three point four percent had explained to smoker patients the risk of this habit for the oral and general health. However, 17% admitted they do not advise their patients to give up smoking for fear of upsetting them, while 15.2% expressed lack of time, and 3.6% think it is not their competence. As to the relationship between oral cancer and smoking, 83% of oral surgeons recognize a direct relationship. In addition, 85.7% of professionals believe that dentists have a primary role in oral cancer prevention. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that most oral surgeons are concerned about the smoking habit of their patients. However, it is necessary to increase the specific training of dentists by providing tobacco treatment programs as part of their professional responsibility. Oral surgeons recognize the direct relationship between the smoking habit and oral cancer and regard as very important the role of dentists in the prevention of this disease.