What determines the provision of smoking cessation advice and counselling by dental care teams?

OBJECTIVE: To investigate determinants of the provision of smoking cessation advice and counselling by various dental professionals in the dental team (dentists, dental hygienists and prevention auxiliaries).

DESIGN: Cross-sectional design.

SETTING: Sixty-two general dental practices in the Netherlands.

METHODS: Multivariate logistic analyses of self-reported counselling behaviour collected from questionnaires for dentists (n = 72), dental hygienists (n = 31) and prevention auxiliaries (n = 50) in general dental practices.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Stimuli and barriers for smoking cessation counselling and advice behaviour to patients with or without oral health problems.

RESULTS: Dental hygienists provided more general cessation advice and counselling than dentists. However, when patients had oral complaints, dentists counselled more often compared to prevention auxiliaries. The support from experienced colleagues positively influenced the provision of advice and counselling as well as the perceived self-efficacy for all kinds of dental professionals.

CONCLUSIONS: The provision of general smoking cessation advice to patients with no acute oral complaints can be improved by more involvement of the dentist and/or task delegation to prevention auxiliaries and dental hygienists. Social support is important in encouraging more smoking cessation advice and counselling. Implementation strategies for support of smoking cessation in dental care should focus on creating a positive advice culture among colleagues.