Impact of a tobacco curriculum on smoking behaviour and attitudes toward smoking in dental students in Japan: a three-year follow-up study.

Aim: Dental professionals have the potential to influence global smoking rates. This study evaluated the impact of a tobacco curriculum on smoking behaviour and attitudes toward smoking in dental students.

Methods: Immediately before and three years after the implementation of a tobacco curriculum with a no-smoking policy, a questionnaire was administered to students to obtain information about their smoking behaviour and attitudes toward smoking.

Results: The number of students who responded to the questionnaire was 580 in 2003 and 554 in 2006. The smoking rate decreased significantly from 35% in 2003 to 26% in 2006; however, analysis of data for each school year suggested that this was due to the prevention of smoking initiation rather than quitting smoking. Attitudes toward patient smoking and public policy were more positive in non-smokers than in current smokers. Improvement in attitudes toward patient smoking was smaller in current smokers than in non-smokers. Little improvement occurred in attitudes toward public policy in both non- and current smokers.

Conclusions: Implementation of a tobacco curriculum was effective in preventing smoking initiation and improving attitudes toward patient smoking in students. Further measures are necessary to improve attitudes toward public policy and to discourage smoking among students.