Promoting Oral Health Among Tobacco Users: A Pilot Feasibility Study

描述（由申请人提供）：与NIDCR R21机制的目标一致，本拨款申请的主要目标是收集试点可行性数据，以支持口腔健康促进计划的发展，该计划旨在通过州戒烟热线整合到标准戒烟治疗中。标准的戒烟计划不涉及促进口腔健康，但这样做有充分的理由。首先，吸烟是口腔癌和咽癌、牙周病和牙根龋的主要危险因素；戒烟是口腔健康的重要组成部分。其次，增加吸烟者对吸烟的风险和戒烟对口腔健康的好处的了解可能有助于增强戒烟的动机。此外，对戒烟感兴趣的人可能会接受其他积极的健康改变，比如改善口腔自我保健，所以戒烟可能会创造一个教育时刻，以其他行为改变为目标。最后，一些用于帮助人们戒烟的特定行为策略和一般健康行为改变理论也可用于促进更好的口腔健康，因此在同时解决这些行为方面可能存在协同作用。尽管有这样的理由，我们还不知道有任何现有的戒烟计划也涉及口腔健康，或者之前的研究已经检查了提供这种联合干预的可行性。许多先前的研究都试图在看牙医时促进戒烟，但我们找不到相反的证据。因此，这项研究不仅解决了戒烟和口腔健康这两个重要问题，而且具有创新性。目前的研究是我们在戒烟和健康促进研究方面工作的自然延伸。在本研究中，我们将从吸烟者和州戒烟热线提供者的角度确定提供联合治疗的可行性；评估改善吸烟者口腔卫生/口腔自我保健和口腔健康教育的必要性；评估吸烟者接受口腔健康促进计划作为戒烟热线服务的一部分的接受程度；并创建一个理论基础的，可被戒烟热线服务提供商接受的原型程序。通过这项研究，我们将了解如何最好地将综合口腔健康促进计划整合到标准戒烟治疗中，并为未来在国家戒烟热线服务背景下测试这种干预措施的随机有效性试验奠定基础。公共卫生相关性：促进口腔健康是一项重要的公共卫生目标。人们呼吁进行更多的研究，看看如何最好地设计和传播口腔健康促进计划。吸烟者患口腔疾病的风险特别高，是干预的重要目标群体。因此，将促进口腔健康与戒烟结合起来是合理的。这一发展项目的目标是进行初步的数据收集和试点工作，以确定通过国家烟草戒烟热线提供的戒烟和口腔健康促进联合干预的可行性和可接受性，该戒烟热线由全国最大的戒烟热线供应商提供。本研究将为今后该领域的随机临床试验奠定基础。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Consistent with the goals of the NIDCR R21 mechanism, the main objectives of this grant application are to collect pilot feasibility data to support the development of an oral health promotion program designed to be integrated into standard smoking cessation treatment offered through state tobacco quitlines. Standard smoking cessation programs do not address oral health promotion, but there is sound rationale for doing so. First, smoking is a major risk factor for oral and pharyngeal cancers, periodontal disease, and dental root caries; and quitting smoking is an important component of good oral health. Next, increasing smokers' understanding of the risks of smoking and benefits of quitting to their oral health may help reinforce motivation for quitting. Additionally, people interested in quitting may be receptive to making other positive health changes, such as improved oral self-care, so quitting smoking may create a teachable moment to target other behavior changes. Finally, some of the specific behavioral tactics and general health behavior change theories employed to assist people quitting smoking can also be used to promote better oral health, so there may be a synergy in addressing these behaviors simultaneously. Despite this rationale, we are unaware of any existing cessation programs that also address oral health or prior studies which have examined the feasibility of offering this combined intervention. Many prior studies have attempted to promote smoking cessation during dental visits, but we can find no evidence of the converse. As such, this study not only addresses two important issues - tobacco cessation and oral health - it is innovative. The current study is a natural extension or our work in smoking cessation and health promotion research. During this study we will establish the feasibility of offering combined treatment from the perspective's of smokers and state quitline providers; assess the need for improved oral hygiene/ oral self-care and oral health education among smokers; assess smokers' receptivity to receiving an oral health promotion program as part of their quitline services; and create a prototype program which is theoretically-based and acceptable to quitline service providers. As a result of this research, we will gain an understanding of how best to integrate a comprehensive oral health promotion program within standard smoking cessation treatment and lay the groundwork for a future randomized effectiveness trial testing this intervention within the context of state quitline services. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Oral health promotion is an important public health goal. More research has been called for looking at how to best design and disseminate oral health promotion programs. Smokers are at particular risk for oral diseases and are an important target group for intervention. Therefore, it is reasonable combine efforts to promote oral health with smoking cessation. The goal of this developmental project is to conduct preliminary data collection and pilot work to establish the feasibility and acceptability of a combined intervention for smoking cessation and oral health promotion offered through state tobacco quitlines conducted by the nation's largest quitline vendor. This study will lay the groundwork for a future randomized clinical trial in this area.