Page 23 - MDA MIDEC 2024 Programme Book

DAY 2 - CONFERENCE SPEAKER
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Dr. Munirah Mohd Adnan
Dr. Munirah Mohd Adnan is a senior lecturer at the School of Dental Sciences,
Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). She began her service at USM as a trainee lecturer
in 2010. She obtained her Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree from USM,
pursued her master's degree, and completed her Doctorate in Dental Public
Health in 2014 from the same university. Currently Dr. Munirah has been appointed
as the Program Chairperson of Dental Public Health, heading the dental public
health unit at the School of Dental Sciences, USM.

Her experience working as a dental officer in several districts in Kelantan sparked
her interest in continuing her studies in Dental Public Health. She aims to raise
awareness about the importance of good oral health within the community. With
the opportunity given to her as a dental public health specialist and lecturer at
USM, Dr. Munirah is committed to training future dental public health specialists
and dentists. She strongly emphasizes the importance of preventing oral diseases
to her students.

She actively engages in teaching, research, clinical work, and community projects
related to tobacco cessation. Due to her deep interest, Dr. Munirah has become
a Certified Smoking Cessation Service Provider. She fervently hopes that all
dentists will actively participate in helping patients quit smoking and stop using
electronic cigarettes.

Speaker’s Lecture :
Empowering Dental Professionals in Smoking Cessation Activities
Smoking negatively impacts both general and oral health. Dentists hold
a unique position to provide smoking cessation interventions, leveraging
their expertise in recognizing and addressing the oral signs and symptoms
caused by smoking. Through active participation in providing cessation
support, dental professionals can significantly improve both oral and
overall health outcomes.

An intervention module has been developed to enhance dentists' self-
efficacy and behavior in delivering smoking cessation interventions to
adult patients. To evaluate the module's effectiveness, participants were
assessed at three intervals: before the intervention, two weeks post-
intervention, and four weeks post-intervention. The results demonstrated
that the module was effective in improving dentists' self-efficacy and
behavior in delivering smoking cessation interventions. By integrating
these interventions into their routine practice, dentists can help patients
overcome addiction and improve their health.

This intervention module not only aims to enhance professional
competencies but also inspires dental professionals to become proactive
advocates for tobacco cessation. By igniting their passion for public health,
fueling their growth through knowledge and skills, and ultimately shaping
healthier smiles, dental professionals can make a profound impact on the
well-being of their patients. This proactive approach ensures that dentists
are not only treating oral health issues but also contributing to the overall
health and well-being of their patients, thus reinforcing the critical role
they play in public health advocacy and intervention.

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