A joint campaign by the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) and the North American Center for Continuing Medical Education (NACCME) showed that dental professionals helped smokers to stop, but also found that more therapeutic strategies are needed.
From 2010 to 2011, nearly 300 oral care professionals participated in the Tobacco and Oral Health: Smoking Cessation Intervention in Dentistry program through webinars, blogs, and tool kits, according to the organizations. Results showed their patients were 29% more likely to receive evidence-based smoking cessation care than those seen by healthcare providers who did not participate in the program.
The continuing education campaign demonstrated a need for developing skills in providing evidence-based therapeutic strategies and implementing recommended guidelines, according to the NACCME and AGD, which is providing Program Approval for Continuing Education (PACE)-approved continuing education for this initiative.
Beginning in 2012, the program will include personal instruction from experts and training on improving patient communication to help them quit smoking, the organizations noted.
