Sains Malaysiana 41(7)(2012): 931 – 937

Practices and Beliefs Among Malaysian Dentists and Periodontists Towards Smoking Cessation Intervention

(Kepercayaan dan Amalan Pegawai Pergigian dan Pakar Periodontik di Malaysia Terhadap Intervensi Berhenti Merokok)

Rathna D Vaithilingam*

Department of Oral Pathology, Oral Medicine & Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry

University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Noor M Mohd Noor

Jitra Dental Clinic, Jitra, Kedah, Malaysia, Rauqah Mustafa, Jalan Gambut Dental Clinic, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia

Rauqah Mustafa

Jalan Gambut Dental Clinic, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia

Tara B. Taiyeb-Ali

Department of Oral Pathology, Oral Medicine and Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry

University of Malaya, Malaysia

Received: 13 July 2011 / Accepted: 30 December 2011

ABSTRACT

This study the compared attitudes, practices and perceived barriers among Malaysian dentists and periodontists towards smoking cessation interventions (SCI) for patients. A self-administered questionnaire, which covered respondents beliefs, practices as well as barriers and limitations towards SCI, were posted to 289 dentists from four Malaysian states and 35 Malaysian periodontists. In all, 236 (82%) dentists and 26 (80%) periodontists responded. More periodontists than dentists routinely record patient’s smoking status at first visit (89.3% vs 19.1%) (p<0.001), recommend nicotine replacement aids (37% vs 16.3%) (p=0.031), refer to smoking cessation clinics (40.7% vs 14%) (p=0.001), followed-up smoking cessation with patients (70.4% vs 11.3%) (p<0.001) and described themselves as being committed to patients’ SCI (81.5% vs 53.4%) (p=0.013). Limitations faced by dentists as compared to periodontists in SCI were due to insufficient time (p<0.001) and fear it will affect dentist-patient relationship (p=0.034). The findings in this study emphasize the importance of SCI and the need for further training in SCI among Malaysian periodontists and government dentists.

Keywords: Beliefs and attitudes; perceived barriers; smoking cessation intervention

ABSTRAK

Dalam kajian ini kami membandingkan sikap, amalan dan rintangan di kalangan pegawai pergigian dan pakar periodontik di Malaysia terhadap intervensi berhenti merokok kepada pesakit. Soalan meliputi kepercayaan, amalan, rintangan dan kekangan responden terhadap intervensi berhenti merokok diedarkan/diposkan kepada 289 pegawai pergigian dari 4 buah negeri dan juga kepada 35 pakar periodontik di Malaysia. Secara keseluruhannya, 236 (82%) pegawai pergigian dari 4 buah negeri dan 26 (80%) pakar periodontik di Malaysia telah menjawab soalan tersebut. Lebih banyak pakar periodontik berbanding pegawai pergigian merekod secara rutin status pesakit yang merokok pada lawatan pertama (89.3% vs 19.1%) (p<0.001), menyarankan untuk mengambil bantuan penggantian nikotin (37% vs 16.3%) (p=0.031), merujuk pesakit kepada klinik berhenti merokok (40.7% vs 14%) (p=0.001), mengikuti perkembangan berhenti merokok bersama-sama pesakit (70.4% vs 11.3%) (p<0.001) dan melibat diri mereka sebagai seorang yang komited terhadap penghentian merokok pesakit (81.5% vs 53.4%) (p=0.013). Kekangan yang dihadapi oleh pegawai pergigian berbanding pakar periodontik dalam melaksanakan intervensi berhenti merokok adalah kerana kekurangan masa (p<0.001) dan khuatir ianya akan memberi kesan kepada hubungan antara pegawai pergigian dan pesakit (p=0.034). Kesimpulannya kajian ini menekankan kepentingan intervensi berhenti merokok dan keperluan untuk mempertingkatkan latihan dalam intervensi berhenti merokok di kalangan pakar periodontik dan pegawai pergigian di Malaysia.

Kata kunci: Intervesi berhenti merokok; kekangan yang dihadapi; kepercayaan dan sikap

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*Corresponding author; email: rathna@um.edu.my