ASSESSING SMOKING HABITS, ATTITUDES, AND KNOWLEDGE AMONG DENTAL STUDENTS OF PAKISTAN: A SURVEY STUDY

Original Article

Abstract

Background: Smoking is a leading contributor to avoidable deaths globally, making it a critical public health concern, and dental professionals play a crucial role in promoting smoking cessation and oral health.

Objective: To assess the smoking habits, attitudes, and knowledge among dental students in Pakistan.

Study Design: A Cross Sectional Study.

Place and Duration of Study. Department of Dentistry Bacha Khan College, Mardan from Jan 2024 to July 2024

Methodology: A cross-sectional study among Pakistani dental students used a self-administered questionnaire. A sample of 222 students from 25 institutes completed the survey, and data was analyzed using SPSS 27 to identify trends and patterns.

Results: 222 dental students (mean age 22.26± 2.25 years, 58.6% male) found that 15 (7%) were current smokers, with 60% having attempted to quit. Male students were more likely to smoke (p < 0.001). Despite this, 96.8% recognized smoking's impact on oral health and 90.1% believed dental professionals should promote cessation. Encouragingly, 86.9% received education on smoking cessation and 64.4% felt confident advising patients on quitting. These findings suggest a positive attitude towards promoting smoking cessation, but a need for continued education to enhance confidence in providing advice. However, there was no statistical difference in smoking rates between preclinical and clinical dental students (p = 0.845) Conclusion: Dental students in Pakistan have a high smoking prevalence, but a positive attitude towards promoting smoking cessation. However, they need more education and training to effectively advise patients to quit smoking, emphasizing the need for strategies to promote smoking cessation in dental settings