Tobacco Dependence Treatment Education for Dental Students

Primary outcomes

1. Change From Baseline in Attitude Score

   Time frame: Questionnaire 1 (baseline/pre-lecture) to Questionnaire 2 (post-lecture or post-lecture and counseling/debriefing sessions)

   The attitude variable was computed by adding the values from two questionnaire items to assess the level agreement with statements: 1.) "It is important for members of the profession to discuss tobacco use with patients" and 2.) "A brief intervention (3 minutes) for tobacco cessation with my patients would be effective." The rating scale was: 0 = strongly disagree, 1 = moderately disagree, 2 = somewhat disagree, 3 = neither disagree or agree, 4 = somewhat agree, 5 = moderately agree, and 6 = strongly agree. A higher value represents participants' more positive attitude toward providing tobacco cessation treatment (Range:0-8). The difference in the attitude from Questionnaire 1 to Questionnaire 2 was computed by subtracting the total value of the variable at Questionnaire 1 from the total value at Questionnaire 2.

2. Change From Baseline in Perceived Barriers Score

   Time frame: Questionnaire 1(baseline/pre-lecture) to Questionnaire 2(post-lecture or post-lecture and counseling /debriefing sessions)

   The perceived barriers variable was computed by adding the total number of barriers reported by participants. Participants were asked to select all factors that may limit their ability to counsel tobacco users during every visit. The rating scale for reporting barriers was: 0 = no and 1 = yes. A higher value represents a higher number of barriers to providing tobacco cessation treatment reported by participants(Range: 0-11). The difference in perceived barriers from Questionnaire 1 to Questionnaire 2 was computed by subtracting the total number of perceived barriers at Questionnaire 1 from the total number of perceived barriers at Questionnaire 2.

3. Change From Baseline in Subjective Norms Score

   Time frame: Questionnaire 1 ( baseline/pre-lecture) to Questionnaire 2 (post-lecture or post-lecture and counseling/debriefing sessions)

   Subjective norms are beliefs that people who influence your actions approve or disapprove of the behavior. The subjective norms variable was computed by adding the values of six questions to assess the participants' level of perceived social pressures to counsel patients in quitting tobacco use. Questions wer rated on a seven-point Likert scale; higher point values indicate a perceived social norm more supportive of counseling patients in quitting tobacco use(Range: 0-36). The difference in the subjective norms score from Questionnaire 1 to Questionnaire 2 was computed by subtracting the total number of participants' subjective norms at Questionnaire 1 from the total number of participants' subjective norms at Questionnaire 2.

4. Change From Baseline in Perceived Skills Score

   Time frame: Questionnaire 1(baseline/pre-lecture) to Questionnaire 2 (post-lecture or post-lecture and counseling/debriefing sessions)

   The perceived skills variable was computed by adding the values of seven questions that assessed the participants' perceived level of tobacco cessation treatment skills from poor to excellent. The rating scale was: 0 = poor, 1 = fair, 2 = good, 3 = very good, and 4 = excellent. A higher value represents a higher level of tobacco cessation treatment skills perceived by participants (Range: 0-28). The difference in the participants' perceived skills from Questionnaire 1 to Questionnaire 2 was computed by subtracting the total value of perceived skills at Questionnaire 1 from the total value of perceived skills at Questionnaire 2.

5. Change From Baseline in Self-efficacy Score

   Time frame: Questionaire 1 (baseline/pre-lecture) to Questionnaire 2 (post-lecture or post-lecture and counseling/debriefing sessions)

   Self-efficacy represents an individual's confidence in his/her ability to perform a behavior. The self-efficacy variable was computed by adding the values of ten questions to assess the participants' self-efficacy to counsel patients to quit tobacco use. The rating scale was: 0 = not at all confident, 1 = not very confident, 2 = moderately confident, 3 = very confident, and 4 = extremely confident. A higher value represents participants' higher level of confidence in providing tobacco cessation treatment (Range: 0-40). The difference in participants' self-efficacy from Questionnaire 1 to Questionnaire 2 was computed by subtracting the total value of self-efficacy at Questionnaire 1 from the total value at Questionnaire 2.

6. Change From Baseline in Intentions Score

   Time frame: Questionnaire 1 (baseline/pre-lecture) to Questionnaire 2 (post-lecture or post-lecture and counseling/debriefing sessions)

   Participants' intentions to provide tobacco cessation treatment were computed by adding values from thirteen questions to assess dental students' intent to counsel patients to quit tobacco use. The rating scale was: 0 = never, 1 = rarely, 2 = sometimes, 3 = almost always, 4 = always (every visit). A higher value represents participants' stronger intentions to provide tobacco cessation treatment (Range: 0-52). The difference in participants' intentions to provide tobacco cessation treatment from Questionnaire 1 to Questionnaire 2 was computed by subtracting the total value of participants' intentions at Questionnaire 1 from the total value of participants' intentions at Questionnaire 2.

7. Change From Baseline in Tobacco Cessation Knowledge Score

   Time frame: Questionnaire 1 (pre-lecture) to Questionnaire 2 (post-lecture or post-lecture and counseling/debriefing sessions)

   The tobacco cessation knowledge variable was computed by adding the participants' total number of correct answers of the ten knowledge questions. The rating scale was: 0 = incorrect and 1 = correct. A higher value represents participants' higher level of tobacco cessation treatment knowledge (Range: 0-10). The difference in the tobacco cessation knowledge from Questionnaire 1 to Questionnaire 2 was computed by subtracting the total number of participants' correct answers at Questionnaire 1 from the total number of participants' correct answers at Questionnaire 2.