Statewide evaluation of a tobacco cessation curriculum for pharmacy students

Abstract

Background: Previous studies suggest that healthcare professionals are inadequately trained to treat tobacco use and dependence. Because even brief interventions from clinicians improve patient quit rates, widespread implementation of effective tobacco cessation training programs for health professional students is needed.

Methods: Pharmacy students received 7-8 h of comprehensive tobacco cessation training. Participants completed pre- and post-program surveys assessing perceived overall abilities for cessation counseling, skills for key facets of cessation counseling (Ask, Advise, Assess, Assist, Arrange), and self-efficacy for counseling.

Results: A total of 493 students (82.3%) completed linkable pre- and post-training evaluations. Self-reported abilities, measured on a five-point scale, increased significantly from 1.89 +/- 0.89 to 3.53 +/- 0.72 (P < 0.001). Twenty-two percent of students rated their overall counseling abilities as good, very good, or excellent before the training versus 94% of students after the training. Eighty-seven percent of students indicated the training will increase the number of patients that they counsel; 97% believed it will increase the quality of their cessation counseling.

Conclusions: Comprehensive training significantly improved pharmacy students' perceived confidence and ability to provide tobacco cessation counseling. The curriculum is applicable to other health professional training programs and currently is being used to train pharmacy, medical, nursing, and dental students.