ResearchProjects

Smoking remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. The 2008 Public Health Service Guideline, “Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence”, provides strong evidence that brief advice combined with assistance such as counseling and pharmacotherapy can significantly increase quit rates. Unfortunately, provider adherence to the Guideline recommendations is poor.  The current project focused on enacting the guidelines in dental care settings. It examined the effectiveness of three strategies for implementing evidence-based guidelines for the treatment of tobacco dependence in dental public health clinics: 1) current best practices (CBP: (reminder system, training and quitline referral system), 2) CBP plus performance feedback (PF) and 3) CBP plus PF and pay for performance. The study will provide critical new knowledge to facilitate the widespread adoption, implementation, dissemination and sustained utilization of evidence-based tobacco use treatment strategies in dental practices across the U.S.