Measuring the Effectiveness of Training on Changes to Clinical Practice: Educating Healthcare Professionals to Provide Brief Interventions for Smoking Cessation to Patients in a Comprehensive Cancer Centre

Abstract

Smoking cessation (SC) is recommended to prevent individuals from developing cancer, with additional benefits following a cancer diagnosis. An interprofessional model has been implemented to integrate SC best practices into daily clinical care. Healthcare professionals were provided with peer-to-peer training to provide brief interventions of SC to patients. This study measured the effectiveness of peer-to-peer education by assessing confidence levels and importance rankings of clinical staff, post-training. An electronic survey was sent to healthcare professionals (nurses, radiation therapists, and patient and family supportive care professionals) at the cancer centre who received training in the brief intervention for smoking cessation. The survey was divided into three domains: confidence, comfort, and knowledge. Respondents were asked to rate a series of statements using Likert scales and open-ended questions. 61 surveys were returned (24% response rate). Majority of respondents had >10 years clinical experience (70%), 91% agreed it was important to support patients in their efforts to quit smoking, 88% agreed they have an impact on their patients' SC attempts, and 67% had opportunities in daily practice to support SC. 61% would benefit from additional education. 53% indicated they experienced challenges providing SC with respect to ownership, accountability of providing interventions and patients' responsiveness. Peer-to-peer training for SC can increase confidence, comfort, and knowledge. Challenges include: comfort level of clinicians, best time to ask patient, and confidence in knowing their scope of practice.