POLICIES AND PRACTICES OF EUROPEAN DENTAL SCHOOLS IN RELATION TO SMOKING - THE PLACE OF TOBACCO EDUCATION IN THE UNDERGRADUATE DENTAL CURRICULUM

A postal questionnaire was used to ascertain policies and practices of European dental schools in relation to smoking and the teaching of th e relationship of smoking to the aetiology and primary prevention of o ral cancer. A majority of responding schools taught the role of smokin g in the aetiology of oral cancer. A majority expected students to tak e smoking histories from patients. Half of schools taught anti-smoking advice to students and half expected students to impart such advice t o patients. A majority banned smoking in clinical and non-clinical tea ching facilities and associated public access areas. There is scope fo r considerable improvement in curricula in relation to anti-smoking co unselling and in the practices of schools in expecting students to act as tobacco counsellors.