222 - Assessment of Pediatric Dental Resident E-Cigarette Knowledge and Prevention

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the knowledge of pediatric dental residents regarding electronic cigarettes and to assess electronic cigarette prevention counseling being provided to pediatric dental patients. Pediatric dental patients ideally visit their dentist every six months and electronic cigarette counseling should be a part of comprehensive care and anticipatory guidance, but is often overlooked. This research sought to emphasize the necessity of equipping providers with knowledge to stress e-cigarette prevention and its consequences.

Methods: Web-based surveys were collected via Microsoft Forms. The research participants included pediatric dental residents currently enrolled in accredited post-graduate training programs for pediatric dentistry across the United States. Participants were recruited via email communication through the AAPD web email listserv. Data collection occurred for three months.

Results: It became evident that pediatric dental residents wished they obtained more information in regards to e-cigarettes and their sequalae. A total of 78% of study participants reported they wish they knew more about e-cigarettes, and a total of 88% of study participants reported they saw value in providing e-cigarette counseling during appointments. Despite the perceived importance of e-cigarette counseling, 60% of participants reported they do not provide e-cigarette counseling during appointments.

Conclusions: Given the drastic increase in e-cigarette usage among pediatric patients, it is imperative that pediatric dental providers offer counseling services during their appointments. Survey participants conclusively recognized value in providing e-cigarette counseling to their patients. Additionally, participants reported a great interest in obtaining more knowledge about electronic cigarette devices and their consequences.

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