Unlocking the Power of Mindfulness to Enhance Tobacco Treatment Training for Health Care Providers

Tobacco cessation remains a challenge for patients in psychiatric settings, with behavioral health care providers (BHCPs) often lacking training in mindfulness-based interventions. This gap may limit BHCPs' ability to offer holistic, evidence-based support to patients struggling with tobacco dependence. Experiential Learning Theory underpinned the mindfulness intervention, emphasizing hands-on learning. Through active participation, such as role-playing and discussion, BHCPs developed practical skills to incorporate mindfulness techniques into patient interactions. Incorporating mindfulness education may enhance tobacco treatment (TT) training, potentially improving outcomes for patients with psychiatric challenges.

A pilot evaluation was conducted on a brief 1-hr online training on mindfulness-based TT strategies. Pre- and post-intervention surveys were used to assess changes in knowledge scores. Post-surveys assessed confidence and intent to apply the learned skills in practice. Changes in knowledge scores were analyzed using paired-sample t-tests, and descriptive statistics were used to present results on confidence and intent to apply learned skills scores after the intervention.

Of 28 BHCPs attending the training, 18 completed pre- and post-test surveys. Among these, there was an increase in knowledge scores (t = -2.496, p = .012) post-intervention. After the intervention, on a scale of 0 to 4, participants (n = 18) rated the intervention as highly effective in supporting their learning (M = 3.57, SD = 0.59) and also reported moderate levels of confidence (M = 2.87, SD = 1.06) and high intention (M = 3.70, SD = 0.55) scores to integrate mindfulness practices to support TT.

Our findings support the feasibility of a 1-hr mindfulness-based training to change BHCPs' knowledge and support confidence and intention to enhance TT efforts.