Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Related to Smokeless Tobacco and Areca Nut Cessation Among Dental Surgeons in Sri Lanka
Abstract Background: Prevalence of smoking in Sri Lanka shows a gradual reduction whilst the use of smokeless tobacco and areca nut shows an increasing trend. At present adequate numbers of smokeless tobacco / areca nut cessation counseling programs are not being carried out in Sri Lanka. As the Dental surgeons could play a significant role in smokeless tobacco / areca nut cessation activities, capacity building programmes for dental surgeons on smokeless tobacco/ areca nut control were carried out. The study was planned to evaluate the knowledge, attitude and practices related to smokeless tobacco/ areca nut control among dental surgeons.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted. Two questionnaires were used to assess the improvement of knowledge and change of attitudes following programmes on smokeless tobacco / areca nut control. Results: There were 663 participants in the study. 27.1% of them had received formal tobacco cessation training in the past. Majority had a good knowledge on harmful effects of smokeless tobacco but not on areca nut. Their knowledge on the current legislation on smokeless tobacco control in Sri Lanka and carcinogenicity of areca nut was not satisfactory. Almost all agreed that proper counseling leads to patient quitting the habit, a formal training is necessary to conduct tobacco control activities and it should be the part of the regular treatment modalities. More than 80% of the Dental surgeons believed that they should support strict legislation. Almost 50% agreed on tobacco and areca nut free environment in their dental clinics. Most important factors leading to poor involvement in tobacco cessation activities were lack of expertise and inadequate educational material, not breach of patient privacy and lack of financial incentives. Surprisingly, 20.1% of the dental surgeons had consumed smokeless tobacco / areca nut products in the past and only a few were current users of tobacco and/or areca nut. Conclusions: Well planned workshops are efficient and cost effective in improving knowledge, practices and attitudes of Dental surgeons towards smokeless tobacco / areca nut cessation.