Impact of Tobacco Cessation Curriculum on Professional Competency of Dental Students: A Survey: Tobacco Cessation Curriculum on Professional Competency of Dental Students

Wajiha Anzar; Syed Hussain Askary; Talal Bin Taheer; Muhammad Bilal Bashir; Sadaf Arshi; Syed Jaffar Abbas Zaidi

doi:10.54393/pjhs.v6i12.3479

Authors

Wajiha Anzar Department of Community Dentistry, Fatima Jinnah Dental College, Karachi, Pakistan
Syed Hussain Askary Department of Community Dentistry, Fatima Jinnah Dental College, Karachi, Pakistan
Talal Bin Taheer Department of Medical Education, Fatima Jinnah Dental College, Karachi, Pakistan
Muhammad Bilal Bashir Department of Oral Biology, Fatima Jinnah Dental College, Karachi, Pakistan
Sadaf Arshi Department of Community Dentistry, Dr Ishrat ul Ibad Khan, Institute of Oral Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan
Syed Jaffar Abbas Zaidi Department of Oral Biology and Digital Learning Center, Dow Dental College, Hamdard University Dental Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54393/pjhs.v6i12.3479

Keywords:

Tobacco Cessation Counseling, Tobacco Cessation, Curriculum, Dentists, Dental Students

Abstract

Tobacco cessation counseling (TCC) has become a crucial component in comprehensive patient care. Dentists are in a unique position to identify tobacco users due to regular patient contact and are pivotal in delivering TCC as part of comprehensive oral healthcare. Objectives: To assess the impact of the tobacco cessation curriculum on the professional competency and intention of dental students to provide TCC. Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2025 to March 2025. It involved students from clinical years, dental interns, and postgraduate students from all Public and Private Dental Colleges in Karachi who had a tobacco cessation curriculum in formal dental teaching. A structured, self-administered questionnaire was used to assess intentions and perceived barriers in TCC using constructs of the Theory of Planned Behaviour. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 22.0. Frequencies and percentages were obtained for variables. The chi-square test was applied to evaluate associations. Results: The majority of participants, 239 (79.7%), demonstrated a high intention to deliver tobacco cessation counseling. No significant difference was observed in the intention of dental students and dentists to provide effective TCC (p-value>0.05). Statistically significant differences were observed between the barriers faced by dental students and dentists in that the students were more concerned that they lacked skills of TCC in comparison to dentists (p-value=0.04). Conclusions: The tobacco cessation curriculum effectively boosts dental students' intention to provide counseling, although skill deficits and concern over patient relationships remain notable barriers.

References

Pronk NP, Woodard C, Rindal DB, Arena R. Exploring the Complex Relationships Between Health Behaviors, Health Outcomes, Social Vulnerability, Regional Cultures, and Oral Health. Current Problems in Cardiology. 2024 Dec; 49(12): 102835. doi: 10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2024.102835.

Bu X, Liu Z, Liu J, Lei M. Global Tobacco-Related Head and Neck Cancer Burden from 1990 to 2019: Estimates from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. Environmental Sciences Europe. 2025 May; 37(1): 72. doi: 10.1186/s12302-025-01115-8.

Okorare O, Evbayekha EO, Adabale OK, Daniel E, Ubokudum D, Olusiji SA et al. Smoking Cessation and Benefits to Cardiovascular Health: A Review of Literature. Cureus. 2023 Mar; 15(3). doi: 10.7759/cureus.35966.

Božac E, Paljević E, Sever E, Braut A, Špalj S, Peršić Bukmir R. Clinical Characteristics and Caries Risk Assessment of Tobacco Heating Systems Smokers, Cigarette Smokers and Non-Smokers: A Cross-Sectional Study. Clinical Oral Investigations. 2024 Jun; 28(7): 382. doi: 10.1007/s00784-024-05778-0.

Bendotti H, McGowan K, Lawler S. Utilisation of a Brief Tobacco Smoking Cessation Intervention Tool in Public Dental Services. Health Promotion Journal of Australia. 2021 Oct; 32: 367-77. doi: 10.1002/hpja.448.

Chandrashekar BR, Khanum N, Kulkarni P, Basavegowda M, Kishor M, Suma S. E-Learning Module on Tobacco Counselling For Students of Medicine and Dentistry in India: A Needs Analysis Using Mixed-Methods Research. British Medical Journal Public Health. 2024 Dec; 2(2). doi: 10.1136/bmjph-2024-001031.

Office US. Interventions for Smoking Cessation and Treatments for Nicotine Dependence. Smoking Cessation: A Report of the Surgeon General [Internet]. 2020.

Gurung D, Bhardwaj VK, Fotedar S, Thakur AS. Role of Dental Health Professional in Tobacco Cessation: A Review. International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health. 2022 Aug; 9(8): 3346-53. doi: 10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20222044.

Sergiel N, Maj P, Włodarczyk-Cybulska K, Kania A, Gonet M, Miszczyk K et al. The Tobacco Epidemic–Pharmacological Interventions for Smoking Cessation. Journal of Education, Health and Sport. 2023 Aug; 46(1): 340-51. doi: 10.12775/JEHS.2023.46.01.024.

Onwuzo CN, Olukorode J, Sange W, Orimoloye DA, Udojike C, Omoragbon L et al. A Review of Smoking Cessation Interventions: Efficacy, Strategies for Implementation, and Future Directions. Cureus. 2024 Jan; 16(1). doi: 10.7759/cureus.52102.

Abujaber DA, Elshatarat RA, Al-Za'areer MS, Al Tarawneh NS, Al-Sayaghi KM, Younis HM et al. Tobacco Use and Health Hazards: A Literature Review for Smoking Cessation. African Journal of Biological Sciences. 2024; 6: 4610-22.

Thomson B, Emberson J, Lacey B, Lewington S, Peto R, Jemal A et al. Association Between Smoking, Smoking Cessation, and Mortality by Race, Ethnicity, and Sex among US Adults. Journal of American Medical Association Network Open. 2022 Oct; 5(10): e2231480-. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.31480.

World Health Organization. WHO Study Group on Tobacco Product Regulation. Report on the Scientific Basis of Tobacco Product Regulation: Tenth Report of A WHO Study Group. World Health Organization. 2025 Nov.

Rasool S, Dobbie F, Ahmad F, Khan Z, Holliday R, Bauld L. Smokeless Tobacco Cessation Support in Dental Hospitals in Pakistan: Dentists and Dental Patients’ Perspectives on Current Practices, Support Needed, and Opportunities Available. Nicotine and Tobacco Research. 2024 Jan; 26(1): 63-71. doi: 10.1093/ntr/ntad125.

Chan HL, Chan AK, Chu CH, Tsang YC. Smoking Cessation in Dental Setting: A Narrative Review on Dental Professionals’ Attitude, Preparedness, Practices and Barriers. Frontiers in Oral Health. 2023 Sep; 4: 1266467. doi: 10.3389/froh.2023.1266467.

Dhanapriyanka M, Silva RR, Warnakulasuriya S, Jayasekara P, De Silva D, Moraes RR et al. Mapping Tobacco Use Cessation Counselling Awareness in Dental Offices: A Cross-Country Survey. BioMed Central Oral Health. 2025 Feb; 25(1): 265. doi: 10.1186/s12903-025-05544-y.

Mohamed R, Bullen C, Hairi FM, Nordin AS. A Systematic Review of Group Therapy Programs for Smoking Cessation in Asian Countries. Tobacco-Induced Diseases. 2021 Aug; 19: 63. doi: 10.18332/tid/140089.

Ogunsanya ME, Frank-Pearce SG, Chen S, Sifat M, Cohn AM, Businelle MS et al. The Influence of Sociodemographic, Tobacco Use, and Mental Health Characteristics on Treatment Adherence among Adults Enrolled in A Community-Based Tobacco Cessation Program. Addictive Behaviors Reports. 2024 Dec; 20: 100568. doi: 10.1016/j.abrep.2024.100568.

Kiyani A, Ahmad R, Ahmad M, Tariq M. Dentists' Knowledge and Attitude Towards Tobacco Cessation Counseling. Journal of The Pakistan Dental Association. 2020 Jul; 29(3). doi: 10.25301/JPDA.293.156.

De Carvalho Oliveira S, De Moraes NA, De Moraes Oliveira ML, De Castro AS. Proficiency, Attitudes, and Practices of University Students as Regards Smoking Electronic Cigarettes. Research, Society, and Development. 2024 Feb; 13(2): e0813244913-. doi: 10.33448/rsd-v13i2.44913.

Halboub E, Jafer MA, Khormi HI, Kariri AA, Atiah SA, Lughbi SJ et al. Attitudes and Practices of Tobacco Cessation Counseling among Saudi Dental Professionals: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Survey. Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice. 2022 Apr; 25(4): 502-8. doi: 10.4103/njcp.njcp_1784_21.

Pipe AL, Evans W, Papadakis S. Smoking Cessation: Health System Challenges and Opportunities. Tobacco Control. 2022 Mar; 31(2): 340-7. doi: 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2021-056575.