Health Care Providers as Key Change Agents in the Community Intervention Trial for Smoking Cessation (COMMIT)

The Community Intervention Trial for Smoking Cessation (COMMIT) is a multi-center collaborative trial sponsored by the National Cancer Institute. COMMIT utilizes multiple, community-based channels to facilitate quit attempts among heavy cigarette smokers. The "health care provider channel" is important, in that physicians, dentists, and other health care providers can effect changes in smoking behavior at both the individual and community level. There are over 1,600 primary care physicians and general practice dentists in the COMMIT intervention communities. This article describes the conceptual basis for the health care provider activities; results of a survey of community attitudes and behaviors regarding smoking and health care; specific training and intervention activities; and the role of health care providers as community change agents in the smoking cessation arena.