The 13th World Conference on Tobacco OR Health

Objective: The Swiss national stop smoking campaign “Smoking is harmful… let it be!” initiated a project for Oral Health Professionals (OHP) entitled "Smoking - Interventions in dental practices in Switzerland" in 2001. A baseline national survey was conducted in 2002 and presented at the WCTOH 2003 in Helsinki. The aim of the tree year follow-up survey was to evaluate the impact of the implementation of TUC in dental practices in Switzerland.

Methods: After baseline evaluation in 2002, a printed manual containing instructions for brief interventions and TUC was distributed to all dentist and dental hygienist in Switzerland. Additionally, dental and dental hygiene schools added TUC to their curriculum. Furthermore, continuing education courses were developed and offered for OHP on a regular base. In 2005, a follow-up survey was sent out to 3'282 dental practices in Switzerland.

Results: A total of 978 surveys (29.8%) were sent back and used for evaluation. Three years following baseline evaluation, the prevalence of tobacco used by OHP slightly decreased (dentists: 8% vs. 11%, dental hygienists 10% vs. 13%, dental assistants: 24% vs. 27%). The frequency of recording the patients' tobacco use behaviour has increased from 54% to 66%. In 2005, OHP ask more adolescents about tobacco use (39% vs. 29%), ask their patients more frequent about their interests in quitting (73% vs. 64%), offer more assistance (25% vs. 17%) and recommend more NRT (35% vs. 17%). In summary, results from this follow-up survey reflect the positive impact of OHP training in TUC and its importance.