Department of Oral Medicine and Periodontology, Faculty of Dental sciences, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.
Centre for Research in Oral Cancer, Faculty of Dental Sciences, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.
Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2021 Apr 1;22(4):1287-1293. doi: 10.31557/APJCP.2021.22.4.1287.
Prevalence of smoking in Sri Lanka has shown a gradual reduction whilst the use of smokeless tobacco and areca nut exhibits an increasing trend. At present, only a few well-structured smokeless tobacco (SLT)/areca nut (AN) cessation programs have been conducted in Sri Lanka, which is a gross underachievement as betel chewing-related oral squamous cell carcinoma is the most common cancer in Sri Lankan males. As General Dental Practitioners (GDP) do not contribute significantly to SLT/AN cessation activities at present, capacity building programs on SLT/AN control were carried out. The study evaluated the knowledge, attitude and practices imparted on SLT/AN control among dental surgeons.
Following a single day capacity building program on smokeless tobacco / areca nut control, two self-administered questionnaires were used to assess the improvement of knowledge and change of attitudes among 663 GDPs.
Majority had a good knowledge on harmful effects of SLT but not on areca nut. Knowledge of the current legislation on SLT control in Sri Lanka and carcinogenicity of areca nut was not satisfactory. Almost all agreed that proper counseling leads to patient quitting the habit, a formal training is necessary to conduct tobacco control activities and it should be a part of the regular treatment modalities. More than 80% of the participants support strict legislation. Most important factors leading to poor involvement in tobacco cessation activities were lack of expertise and inadequate educational material and not breach of patient privacy and lack of financial incentives. 20.1% dental surgeons had consumed smokeless tobacco / areca nut products in the past and only a few were current users of tobacco and/or areca nut.
Well planned workshops are efficient in improving knowledge, practices and attitudes of dental surgeons towards SLT/AN cessation.
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斯里兰卡的吸烟率呈逐渐下降趋势，而咀嚼无烟烟草和槟榔的比例则呈上升趋势。目前，斯里兰卡仅开展了少数几个结构完善的无烟烟草（SLT）/槟榔（AN）戒断项目，这远远不够，因为嚼槟榔相关的口腔鳞状细胞癌是斯里兰卡男性中最常见的癌症。由于普通牙医目前对 SLT/AN 戒断活动的贡献不大，因此开展了 SLT/AN 控制能力建设项目。本研究评估了牙医在 SLT/AN 控制方面的知识、态度和实践。
在进行了为期一天的 SLT/AN 控制能力建设项目后，使用两份自填式问卷评估了 663 名普通牙医在 SLT/AN 控制方面知识的提高和态度的变化。
大多数人对 SLT 的有害影响有很好的了解，但对槟榔了解甚少。对斯里兰卡 SLT 控制现行立法和槟榔致癌性的了解并不令人满意。几乎所有人都认为适当的咨询可以促使患者戒烟，开展烟草控制活动需要进行正式培训，并且应该成为常规治疗模式的一部分。超过 80%的参与者支持严格的立法。导致他们参与戒烟活动不积极的最重要因素是缺乏专业知识和足够的教育材料，而不是侵犯患者隐私和缺乏经济激励。20.1%的牙医过去曾使用过无烟烟草/槟榔制品，只有少数人现在仍在使用烟草和/或槟榔。
精心策划的研讨会可以有效地提高牙医对 SLT/AN 戒断的知识、实践和态度。
