Insights into the Tobacco Cessation Scenario among Dental Graduates: An Indian Perspective

Introduction: To curb the ever growing menace of tobacco and its ill effects, it is essential to prevent itsusage. Dental professionals’ contributions can be invaluable in this venture.
Objectives: To assess Indian dentalgraduates’ knowledge, attitude and practices towards tobacco cessation; perceived effectiveness in pursuingtobacco cessation activities; perception of factors that interfere in tobacco cessation as barriers; and willingnessto participate in tobacco cessation. Further, to determine associations among the aforementioned variables.Methodology: All house surgeons in Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal University, Mangalore wereincluded in the study. A structured, pre-tested and self-administered questionnaire was employed to assessparticipants’ knowledge, attitude, behavior, perceived effectiveness, perceived barriers and willingness toparticipate in tobacco cessation. Information regarding respondents’ age, gender and residence was collected.
Results: A total of 100 out of 103 respondents participated in the study. Mean knowledge, attitude, behavior,perceived effectiveness, perceived barrier scores were 17.6±2.53 (73.2%), 72.1±6.59 (90.2%), 28.3±5.12 (67.4%),13.3±5.36 (53.16%) and 35.0±3.79 (89.8%) respectively. Overall, 97% respondents were willing to participate intobacco cessation activities. Correlation analysis revealed that knowledge was associated with attitude (r=0.36,p=0.00) and perceived barriers (r=0.34, p=0.00) and behavior was associated with perceived barriers (r=0.22,p=0.03).
Conclusions: Respondents reported high knowledge and attitude scores, along with high perceivedbarriers scores and willingness to participate in tobacco cessation activities. Present study highlights the needfor a more meaningful involvement of dental professionals in tobacco cessation and has policy implications forcurriculum changes regarding the same.