Dentists' intentions to manage drug users: Role of theory of planned behaviour and continuing education

Objectives: To assess dentists' intention to manage drug users (DUs) and to evaluate the role of the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and continuing education (CE) in explaining this intention.

Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2017, including dentists from three major Saudi cities. A questionnaire assessed personal and professional background and components of TPB: attitude, perceived social norms, perceived control and intention to manage DUs. Respondents expressed their agreement on a scale from 1 (disagree) to 7 (agree). Receiving CE to manage DUs was also assessed. Adjusted linear regression was used to assess the impact of the TPB constructs and receiving CE on dentists' intention.

Results: Response rate = 72% (255/354), mean (SD) age = 35.2 (11.9). The mean (SD) for positive intention to manage DUs = 5.34 (1.37), negative attitude = 4.03 (1.10), positively perceived norms = 5.78 (1.06) and perception of no control = 4.45 (1.08). Only 9% received CE to manage DUs. Positive intention was associated with perception of positive norms (B = 0.73, 95% CI = 0.59, 0.87) and perception of no control (B = -0.47, 95% CI = -0.63, -0.32) but not with receiving CE (P = 0.58).

Conclusion: In major Saudi cities, dentists' intention to manage DUs was positive and was explained by TPB components: perception of norms and perception of control. Modified and targeted CE is needed to address this problem.