Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 22, 2026

Project-Based Learning Guidelines for Health Sciences Students: An Analysis with Data Mining and Qualitative Techniques
Published on: December 9, 2022
Knowledge of nicotine dependence and treatment in clinical practice improved after an e-learning course among medical
M C Grassi1, A Sansone2, S Basili3
1Department of Physiology and Pharmacology "V. Erspamer", "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome.
Objective:
Tobacco smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in developed countries and smokers should be encouraged to quit. Physicians are instrumental in this, but recent reports suggest inadequate training in medical school. We aimed to assess the knowledge of nicotine dependence and its treatment among Italian medical students.
Study Design:
Prospective observational study.
Methods:
We developed an online course consisting of 11 Didactic Modules (6 for Tobacco Dependence I, TDI, and 5 for TDII) on nicotine dependence and treatment. The course was administered to 4th and 5th year medical students in Italy in Academic Years 2016-17 (Course A) and 2017-18 (Course B). A validated questionnaire was used before and after each part in order to measure knowledge of smoking epidemiology, health effects and benefits of giving up smoking ("Score 1", TDI), and effectiveness of cessation treatments ("Score 2", TDII).
Results:
324 students took both TDI and TDII and completed all questionnaires (Course A, n = 245; Course B, n = 79). 55 students were current smokers (17%). A significant increase in score 1 and 2 was observed at the end of both TDI (pre-course 47.2±13.1, post-course 66.0±12.3, p <0.0001) and TDII (pre-course 55.6±11.5, post-course 68.1±10.9, p <0.0001). The prevalence of students wishing for a smoke-free medical school significantly increased between the beginning of TDI (74.4%, 241/324) and the end of TDII (88%, 285/324; p <0.0001).
Conclusions:
This e-learning course has proven to be an effective tool in teaching students on nicotine dependence and treatment.
More Related Videos
10:17Improving Student Outcomes with an Adaptable Molecular Cloning Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience
Published on: November 15, 2024
08:42Ultrasound Assessment of Endothelial-Dependent Flow-Mediated Vasodilation of the Brachial Artery in Clinical Research
Published on: October 22, 2014
Related Concept Videos
Cholinergic Receptors: Nicotinic
There are two types of nicotinic receptors: neuromuscular (NM/NM/N1) and neuronal (NN/NN/N2). The two families differ based on their location and selectivity to...
CNS Depressants: Alcohol and Nicotine
Student t Distribution
The Student t distribution was developed by William S. Goset (1876–1937) of the...
Frequency-dependent Selection
Microsoft Excel: Student's t-Test
To conduct a t-test in Excel, use the T.TEST function or the "Data...
Comparing Experimental Results: Student's t-Test