Introduction: Paan quid with tobacco (PQT) use is common in South Asian populations. Oral pain following a PQT cessation attempt is commonly reported. Factors determining this await full exploration.
Methods: This prospective study of PQT chewers used a prepiloted interview and clinical examination. Oral pain, socioeconomic position, oral status, health service use, tobacco use and dependency, and psychological distress measures were collected from U.K.-resident Bangladeshi women before and after their quit attempts. Analysis included descriptive and analytic modeling of oral pain determinants, using multiple logistic regressions and a significance value p ≤ .05.
Results: A total of 150 females (mean age 51.2 [SD = 13.7, range = 24-84] years) completed the study. Baseline oral pain prevalence was 39% and 73% at follow-up. Completed education level predicted baseline oral pain (OR = 3.43, 95% CI [1.66, 7.11], p = .001). Follow-up oral pain was predicted by completed education level (OR = 3.74, 95% CI [1.43, 9.79], p = .007), anxiety (OR = 3.52, 95% CI [1.23, 10.07], p = .019), choosing behavioral support alone in the cessation attempt (OR = 3.12, 95% CI [1.26, 8.70], p = .015), failure to stop tobacco chewing during the cessation attempt (OR = 4.16, 95% CI [1.44, 12.04], p = .009), and tooth wear (attrition) (OR = 5.71, 95% CI [1.84, 17.79], p = .003). Lower dependency level (OR = 0.79, 95% CI [0.64, 0.97], p = .023) was protective.
Conclusion: Dental care access, nicotine replacement therapy, and anxiety management should be incorporated into cessation service delivery protocols to manage oral pain onset and facilitate successful cessation.