Evaluation of a Tobacco Treatment Training Program.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Education
• Public Health
• Behavioral Medicine

Background:

• Effective tobacco cessation interventions require healthcare professionals trained in specialized treatment strategies.
• Program evaluations are crucial for assessing the impact of continuing education on healthcare providers' skills and patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a three-day Tobacco Treatment Specialist (TTS) training program.
• To determine if participants maintained knowledge and practices for tobacco cessation six months after the program.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-model analysis was employed using pre-test and six-month post-test surveys.
• Surveys included knowledge, confidence, and skills assessments with Likert-style and open-ended questions.
• 98 participants completed the pre-test, and 16 completed the six-month post-test.

Main Results:

• Knowledge scores significantly improved from a mean of 61.1% to 87.9% (p < 0.001).
• Improvements in knowledge, confidence, and skills were maintained at the six-month follow-up.
• Participants reported increased commitment to assisting patients with tobacco cessation.

Conclusions:

• The intensive three-day TTS training program demonstrates a lasting positive impact on healthcare professionals.
• The training enhances providers' capacity to support patients in quitting and maintaining tobacco abstinence.
• Program evaluation confirms the value of specialized training in tobacco treatment for improving patient care.