Text Message (SMS) Microlearning for Tobacco Use Disorder: Pre-Post Pilot Study of Clinician Confidence

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Public Health
• Digital Health

Background:

• Clinician training for tobacco use disorder (TUD) management is often inconsistent, leading to variable confidence levels.
• Busy clinical settings present challenges for traditional, time-intensive training methods.
• Brief, accessible educational tools are needed to support clinicians in TUD treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a short, text message-based microlearning series on clinicians' self-reported confidence in managing tobacco use disorder.
• To assess the feasibility and engagement of SMS microlearning in a clinical environment.

Main Methods:

• A single-arm, pre-post educational pilot study was conducted at an academic medical center.
• A 13-day SMS microlearning series delivered daily messages with key teaching points and resources.
• Clinician confidence in managing TUD was measured using a 1-100 scale before and after the intervention.

Main Results:

• Mean clinician confidence increased significantly from 60 at baseline to 85 post-intervention (P<.001).
• All 22 enrolled participants completed the series, with high engagement indicated by 67% of embedded links being opened.
• Qualitative feedback highlighted the convenience, clarity, and practical utility of the SMS microlearning approach.

Conclusions:

• A brief SMS microlearning intervention demonstrably improved clinician confidence in managing tobacco use disorder.
• This scalable, low-cost digital health approach is practical for busy clinicians.
• Future research should incorporate objective measures, control groups, and longer-term follow-up.