Análise da conscientização dos cirurgiões dentistas do Rio Grande do Norte sobre os impactos do uso do cigarro eletrônico e seus riscos para a saúde bucal

Abstract

Objective: To assess the level of awareness among dentists regarding the risks that e cigarettes pose to oral health. Methodology: A quantitative and observational survey was conducted using an online questionnaire about sociodemographic characteristics, time since graduation, area of expertise, consumption, and awareness of the risks associated with e-cigarette use. Participants were selected from among those duly registered and active with the Regional Dental Council of Rio Grande do Norte (CRO RN). After data collection, a descriptive and bivariate statistical analysis was performed, with a significance level of 5%. Results: Most dentists were male (67%), worked in Natal (47.8%), and had graduated up to 5 years ago (56.3%). In addition, 41.5% of participants reported working in the private sector and 63.4% reported having received information about e-cigarettes; however, only 9.4% considered themselves prepared to deal with problems associated with their use. Most dentists had never used the device (70.1%), and 65.2% considered that e-cigarettes and conventional cigarettes are equally harmful. The Internet (83.1%) and television (80.3%) were the main means by which dentists reported having received information about e-cigarettes, and most respondents (54.6%) did not believe that e-cigarettes could help in quitting conventional cigarette use. Conclusion: The results of this study highlighted that most dentists, despite being aware of e-cigarettes, did not feel prepared to advise their patients on this subject. These findings reinforce the need to develop specific educational programs that address these gaps, aiming to reduce the harm associated with the use of these devices.