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ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Introduction
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Variable
Sex
Male
Female
Frequency (%)
22 (26.2)
62 (73.8)
Ethnic group
Malay
Chinese
Indian
Others
78 (92.8)
3 (3.6)
2 (2.4)
1 (1.2)
Type of practice
Ministry of Health
Universiti Sains Malaysia
Private
60 (71.4)
15 (17.9)
9 (10.7)
Variable
Frequency (%)
How much is your responsibility as a
dentist to provide in smoking cessation
counselling?
Not at all
1 (1.2)
A little bit
8 (9.5)
To some extent
26 (31.0)
Considerable extent
28 (33.3)
Great extent
21 (25.0)
Results
Table 1 shows the socio-demographic profile of
the respondents. Majority of them were female.
Malay was the majority ethnic group compared
to others. Most of the dentists were in the
government sector, either in the Ministry of
Health (71.4%) or in USM (17.9%). Of all
subjects, only 20.2% had ever attended a formal
course in smoking cessation.
12
1 (1.2)
26 (30.9)
32 (38.1)
21 (25.0)
4 (4.8)
7 (8.3)
16 (19.0)
33 (39.3)
23 (27.4)
5 (6.0)
19 (22.6)
20 (23.8)
29 (34.5)
14 (16.7)
2 (2.4)
5 (6.0)
29 (34.5)
37 (44.0)
11 (13.1)
2 (2.4)
Variables
Frequency (%)
26 (31.0)
21 (25.0)
22 (26.2)
9 (10.7)
6 (7.1)
15 (17.8)
24 (28.6)
30 (35.7)
14 (16.7)
1 (1.2)
17 (20.2)
18 (21.4)
23 (27.4)
21 (25.0)
5 (6.0)
18 (21.4)
21 (25.0)
27 (32.1)
17 (20.2)
1 (1.2)
36 (42.8)
25 (29.8)
13 (15.5)
7 (8.3)
3 (3.6)
Discussion
Involvement
in
smoking cessation
counselling among dentists in Kelantan was
rather limited (Table 3). Surprisingly, many of
the dentists (31.0%) did not at all enquire about
their patients smoking status. Not to mention,
quite a number of them also never provided
smoking cessation counselling (17.8%) or
explained on the health risks of smoking
(20.2%) or offered any advices and motivation
for their patients to stop smoking (21.4%).
Majority of the dentists cited the lack of training
and time as the main reasons for their low
involvement in such activities (Table 4). Apart
from the ones listed in the questionnaire, no
other forms of barrier were identified.
Table 4
Variables
Frequency (%)
I feel constrained because of lack
73 (86.9)
of training in smoking cessation
I dont provide smoking cessation
due to lack of remuneration
26 (30.1)
73 (86.9)
44 (52.4)
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Acknowledgement
The authors would like acknowledge Y. Bhg.
Professor Dato' Dr. Ishak Abdul Razak, from
Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Malaya for giving
us the permission to adapt his questionnaire for
use in this study.
References
Albert D, Ward A, Ahluwalia K and Sadowsky D
(2002). Addressing tobacco in managed care: A
survey of dentists' knowledge, attitudes, and
behaviors. Am J Public Health, 92(6): 997-1001.
Asch DA, Jedrziewski MK and Christakis NA (1997).
Response rates to mail surveys published in
medical journals. J Clin Epidemiol, 50(10): 1129-1136.
Aza Fazura A (2004). The potential role of dentists in
smoking cessation among their patients. Master
dissertation, Universiti Malaya: Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia.
Cabana MD, Rand CS, Powe NR, Wu AW, Wilson
MH, Abboud PA and Rubin HR (1999). Why don't
physicians follow clinical practice guidelines? A
framework for improvement. JAMA, 282(15): 14581465.
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