Revista Portuguesa de Estomatologia, Medicina Dentária e Cirurgia Maxilofacial · Published 2026-06-30 · DOI 10.24873/j.rpemd.2026.06.1574
Catarina Salvado, Sónia Alexandra Mateus Flores Mendes Borralho
Objectives: Smoking is one of the leading preventable causes of morbidity and mortality, representing a threat to public health, including oral health. Oral hygienists are in a privileged position to deliver brief and very brief interventions during consultations. This study aimed to identify the procedures oral hygienists perform for smoking cessation, the barriers they face, and the training they have received in this area. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted, with data collected via an online questionnaire. The questionnaire included sociodemographic and professional information, smoking cessation practices, barriers to their implementation, and training. The questionnaire was distributed by the Portuguese Dental Hygienists Association and on social media. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed, and the chi-square test was applied (α=0.05). Results: The sample consisted of 203 oral hygienists. The majority (97.5%) agreed or totally agreed on the importance of their role in smoking cessation, and 84.7% considered training in this area important or very important. However, 59.1% reported never receiving specific training. The most common practice was to list the adverse effects of tobacco. About onethird of the participants did not refer smoking patients to specialized care. The main barriers identified were patients’ lack of interest and resistance to quitting smoking (82.0%) and the lack of training (78.1%). Conclusions: Although oral hygienists recognize the importance of smoking cessation practices, they face significant barriers, such as gaps in training. For effective intervention, it is essential that these professionals acquire specific skills and deepen their knowledge in this area.
Abstract from DOAJ. Public domain (CC0 1.0).
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Salvado, C., Borralho, S. (2026). Smoking cessation: brief and very brief interventions in oral hygiene consultations in Portugal. Revista Portuguesa de Estomatologia, Medicina Dentária e Cirurgia Maxilofacial. https://doi.org/10.24873/j.rpemd.2026.06.1574