FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH SELF-EFFICACY AND BEHAVIOUR IN PROVIDING SMOKING CESSATION INTERVENTION FOR ADULT PATIENTS AMONG PUBLIC DENTISTS IN NORTHEAST MALAYSIA

Received 2023-08-22; Accepted 2024-02-27; Published 2024-09-10

Abstract

Introduction: The smoking prevalence in Malaysia continues to be a crucial issue, and its negative effects not only on general health but also on oral health. Although dentists are in an ideal position to assist in smoking cessation, it is unclear to what extent they are prepared to do so effectively. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the self-efficacy and behaviour of public dentists in providing smoking cessation interventions to adult patients, as well as the associated factors. 

Materials and Methods:  A cross-sectional study was conducted between November and December 2022, involving 160 dentists working in public primary dental clinics in Kelantan and Terengganu. Convenience sampling was applied, and data collection was carried out online using Google Forms®. The questionnaire comprised of 16 items in the demographic section and 11 items each for the self-efficacy and behaviour sections. The data was entered and analysed using SPSS version 26.0. The levels of self-efficacy and behaviour were categorised as low, moderate, and high based on percentiles: low at the 33rd percentile, moderate between the 33rd and 66th percentile, and high above the 66th percentile. Independent t-tests and Pearson's correlation coefficient analyses were performed to assess factors associated with self-efficacy and behaviour. 

Results: The study found that the majority of participants were female (83.8%), Malay (98.1%), and never-smokers (96.9%). The participants' mean (SD) age was 32.2 (3.64) years old. The results showed that most participants scored at or below the 33rd percentile for self-efficacy (38.1%) and behaviour (35.6%). Self-efficacy was significantly associated with gender (p = 0.037) and attended smoking cessation intervention training (p = 0.008). The study also revealed that self-efficacy had a significant moderate positive correlation with the behaviour towards providing smoking cessation intervention, r = 0.509, p < 0.001. 

Conclusions: The public dentists in Northeast Malaysia have been observed to have low self-efficacy and limited behaviour when it comes to providing smoking cessation interventions to adult patients. It was found that the gender and attendance of smoking cessation intervention training were associated with the self-efficacy of the dentists. It was also observed that an increase in self-efficacy had led to an increase in behaviour towards providing smoking cessation intervention. Therefore, it is suggested that smoking cessation intervention training be made available to public dentists in order to improve both self-efficacy and behavioural tendencies in providing smoking cessation interventions for adult patients.