J Educ Eval Health Prof.  2014;11:26. 10.3352/jeehp.2014.11.26.

Assessment of professional competency and need of smoking cessation counseling for dental students

• Dable RA
• Wasnik PB
• Pawar BR
• Bopardikar SS
• Nagmode SN

• KMID: 2380945
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3352/jeehp.2014.11.26

Abstract

PURPOSE
The aim of this study was to analyze the smoking prevalence among dental students and to assess the need for promoting tobacco education and intervention by exploring their knowledge about smoking related risk factors. The study also examined the attitudes and practices of the students toward tobacco consumption, and their responsibilities toward the community.
METHODS
In total, 53 male students participated in the study (21 juniors and 32 seniors). The training program was divided into three modules, and the questionnaire was administered before and after the counseling sessions, which provided the comparative data on the students' views about smoking cessation.
RESULTS
The most commonly practiced mode of tobacco consumption was found to be cigarette smoking (90.6%), while a few consumed Gutkha (9.4%). All the junior students (100%) reported to have been benefitted by the counseling program, while 68.8% of the students from the senior group reported the same. Bivariate statistical analysis was conducted using the Pearson's chi-square test for testing the difference across the age groups. P-values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant.
CONCLUSION
Curbing tobacco influence on dental students in their initial days can ensure a smoke-free life for them, as well as prevents them from feeling embarrassed or experiencing a lack of confidence while seeing their patients. Thus, tobacco education and intervention programs can motivate the students and increase their potential to be credible advisors regarding smoking cessation.

Keyword

Counseling; Dental students; Prevalence; Risk factors; Smoking cessation

MeSH Terms

Counseling*
Education
Humans
Male
Prevalence
Risk Factors
Smoke
Smoking
Smoking Cessation*
Students, Dental*
Tobacco
Tobacco Use
Surveys and Questionnaires
Smoke

Figure

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  Fig. 1. Comparison of students’ perception after quitting smoking. Explanation of items: 1. do you feel benefitted from the counseling program?; 2. do you think institutions should start ‘tobacco dependence counseling?’; 3. do you think universities and institutions should include tobacco cessation education in the curriculum?; 4. do you think that smoking among medical teachers and students is an obstacle in providing tobacco education?; 5. do you want to be a volunteer for the anti-tobacco campaign and help others?

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