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Tobacco education in UK dental schools: A survey of current practice
Author(s) -
Holliday R.,
Amin K.,
Lawrence V.,
Preshaw P. M.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
european journal of dental education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.583
H-Index - 41
eISSN - 1600-0579
pISSN - 1396-5883
DOI - 10.1111/eje.12280
Subject(s) - smoking cessation , medicine , dental education , tobacco control , dental hygiene , medical education , intervention (counseling) , family medicine , nursing , public health , pathology
Abstract Objective To investigate the current provision of tobacco education (tobacco use and cessation), assessment and e‐cigarette education in UK dental and dental hygiene and therapy ( DHT ) undergraduate programmes. Materials and Methods The study was conducted using a self‐administered questionnaire sent to all UK institutions training dental and DHT students during the academic year 2015/2016. Results Twenty‐five programmes returned completed questionnaires (response rate 68%). All programmes (100%) reported delivering tobacco education, delivered by multiple individuals in 78% of the programmes. Assessment of the theoretical and practical aspects of tobacco education was reported in 80% and 72% of the programmes, respectively. More formal teaching time was devoted to the theoretical aspects (100% >2 hours) rather than the practical aspects (76% > 2 hours) of tobacco education. All programmes expected their graduates to be clinically competent at discussing the health consequences of smoking, deliver a brief smoking cessation intervention, and referring patients to stop smoking services. The use of the National Centre for Smoking Cessation and Training “Very Brief Advice” ( NCSCT VBA ) training package was reported to be mandatory in 36%, and recommended, in 44% of programmes. Specialised stop smoking services delivered teaching in 40% of both dental and DHT training programmes whilst another 40% reported previous input from specialist smoking cessation services but not in 2015/2016. Most programmes reported delivery of teaching on electronic cigarettes, with 12% delivering a standalone lecture on this topic. Conclusions Tobacco education is an important component of dental training. Dental education programmes should remain responsive to a rapidly changing field and fully utilise the available resources.