Practices, Attitude & Perceived Barriers of Dental Students in Substance Use Screening & Interventions in Dental Practice: A Cross-Sectional Study

Context: Tobacco, the leading preventable cause of death including alcohol and illicit drug abuse, cause morbidity and mortality. Dentists deal with such patients & can/ should intervene, preventing any deleterious habits with apt knowledge and training.

Aims: The study assesses the knowledge, attitude and practices amongst dental students to manage patients with tobacco, alcohol and substance abuse in a clinical set up.

Methodology: A cross-sectional questionnaire (self-administered 22 items) survey was conducted among 300 dental students (Undergraduates, Interns, Postgraduates) in a dental college, North India to assess their knowledge, attitude and practices regarding substance abuse- tobacco, alcohol and other illicit drugs. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16.0 and subjected to Chi-square test to determine the significant difference between the dental study groups (p≤ 0.05)

Results: There were 37.1% males and 62.9% of females. Final years (33.8%), interns (29.8%) and Post graduates (36.5%) completed the questionnaire. 85.5% Postgraduates, 74.3% final years and 71.9% interns knew where to refer the patients of substance abuse which was statistically significant (p≤ 0.05).A majority (91.1%) of interns prescribe or provide tobacco cessation, followed by 87.1% final years and 78.2% post graduates that were significant values.

Conclusions: Although there’s huge awareness on the management of patients with substance abuse habits, only a few practice it on patients correctly. Lack of training and its application due to many barriers have been discussed in detail pointing out the disparity in the number of patients with habit history being screened and to those being managed.