[Smoking cessation support workshops in medical training programs in Lebanon]

Tobacco use is a major public health problem in our societies today. Nevertheless, effective smoking cessation interventions can reduce tobacco-related morbidity and mortality.

The aim of this study was to develop, implement, and evaluate a Competency-Based Approach (CBA) training program for residents in Lebanon aiming to improve their skills in counseling patients about smoking cessation.

We followed a systematic educational planning starting by identification of professional tasks and competencies to acquire. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted for 16 residents to analyze learning needs and determine learning objectives. The workshop was chosen as a learning method. A pre-post intervention analysis made it possible to evaluate the progress.

Pre-intervention analysis showed that residents lacked skills and faced barriers in smoking cessation interventions (score of the items “General Knowledge”: 7.1/10; “Practices”: 6.5/10; “Skills”: 3.8/10; “Barriers”: 5.6/10). There were statistically significant improvements in all scores as well as significant decrease in barriers post-intervention (score of the items “General Knowledge”: 9.4/10; “Practices”: 9.2/10; “Skills”: 8.3/10; “Obstacles”: 2.1/10). The evaluation of the workshop was overwhelmingly positive.

A CBA workshop can improve residents’ skills and effectiveness in counseling patients about smoking cessation. It should be integrated into the medical curriculum and delivered to every physician especially in a country with one of the highest rate of smoking and the weakest tobacco control strategies.