TOBACCO CONTROL ACTIVITIES OF IOWA DENTAL HYGIENISTS

The purpose of this study was to determine the type and extent of toba cco control activities provided to dental patients by Iowa dental hygi enists. Surveys were mailed to 1056 dental hygienists who had active I owa dental hygiene licenses. Forty-one were returned by the post offic e and 138 did not meet all of the criteria for the survey, Of the rema ining pool of 877-340 were completed and returned for a response rate of 38.8%. Only 4.6% of the hygienists routinely asked their patients a bout their tobacco use. Thirty-five percent routinely advised smokers to stop and 57% routinely advised smokeless tobacco users to stop. Thi rteen percent routinely assisted smokers to stop and 20% routinely ass isted smokeless tobacco users in stopping. None of the hygienists rout inely engaged in followup to tobacco cessation activities. Cessation p ractice activities and amounts varied by several categorical variables . The majority of Iowa dental hygienists who responded to this sun ey did not routinely ask, advise, assist or arrange for or about their pa tients' tobacco use or cessation. Recommendations are given on how to improve tobacco prevention and cessation programs in dental offices.