Occupational Health Nurses' Self-Efficacy in Implementing Smoking Cessation Interventions for Workers: A...

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Behavioral Science
• Nursing Practice

Background:

• Workplace smoking remains prevalent, necessitating effective smoking cessation interventions (SCIs).
• Occupational health nurses (OHNs) are well-positioned to deliver SCIs, but low self-efficacy can be a barrier.
• This study aimed to enhance SCI delivery and explore nurse self-efficacy in a manufacturing setting.

Purpose of the Study:

• To improve the delivery of smoking cessation interventions (SCIs) in the workplace.
• To explore and enhance the self-efficacy of occupational health nurses (OHNs) in providing SCIs.
• To assess the impact of motivational interviewing (MI) training on OHNs and their smoking patients.

Main Methods:

• A pretest-posttest design was used with two groups: OHNs (n=5) and smokers (n=11) in U.S. manufacturing facilities.
• OHNs received training in motivational interviewing (MI) techniques.
• Participants were measured using Likert-type scales assessing OHN self-efficacy and smokers' stage of change toward quitting.

Main Results:

• Significant increases in OHN self-efficacy scores post-intervention (p < .001).
• Significant increases in smokers' motivation to change (stage of change) scores post-intervention (p < .001).
• The MI training and intervention were effective in enhancing both OHN self-efficacy and smoker motivation.

Conclusions:

• This quality improvement project demonstrated that MI techniques can successfully recruit and counsel workplace smokers.
• The intervention simultaneously improved OHN self-efficacy in assisting patients with smoking cessation.
• A novel recruitment method utilizing a reverse nurse-patient role showed success in smoking cessation efforts.