Practice Change After Training Psychiatry Residents in Tobacco Use Disorder.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Psychiatry
• Addiction Medicine

Background:

• Tobacco use disorder remains a significant public health concern.
• Effective treatment practices are crucial for patient cessation.
• Psychiatry residents require specialized training in tobacco cessation interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of a tobacco use disorder course on psychiatry residents' treatment practices.
• To evaluate changes in treatment frequency before and after the educational intervention.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 89 psychiatry residents participated in the study.
• Treatment practices were assessed before and 3 months after completing a tobacco use disorder course.
• Statistical analysis compared pre- and post-course practice frequencies.

Main Results:

• Residents reported a significant increase in 9 out of 12 tobacco use disorder treatment practices.
• Post-course, participants were more likely to assess willingness to quit, advise cessation, and prescribe medications.
• Junior residents and those completing online training showed significant improvements in specific treatment practices.

Conclusions:

• A targeted educational course significantly enhances psychiatry residents' tobacco use disorder treatment practices.
• The findings underscore the importance of specialized training for improving cessation interventions.
• Further research can explore long-term practice maintenance and patient outcomes.