P2.10-13 Effects of the Advanced Tobacco Control Training (ATCT) on Healthcare Professionals’ Smoking Cessation Knowledge and Counseling

Abstract

Smoking is the major threat to health and it may cause cancer and many chronic illnesses. Due to nature of nicotine dependence, it is not easy to quit smoking. Trained health care personnel play important roles in helping people in smoking cessation (SC). This study is part of a national project. The purpose of the study is to (1) explore the influencing factors related to providing SC counseling interventions among healthcare professionals; and (2) examine the effects of an “advanced tobacco control (ATC) in healthcare professionals of its effects on their SC knowledge, attitudes and providing SC counseling. It is a health outcome research with pretest-post-test design. Eligible subjects were health care professionals with basic knowledge of tobacco control. In Taiwan, a national advanced tobacco control training (ATCT) was applied for them and examine of its further effects. A total of 383 subjects participated the study (combining from four groups of trainings). The self-report questionnaire was used before the ATCT as baseline data (T0). The 3 and 6 months post-training examination were again delivered (T1 & T2). A generalized estimating equation (GEE) was used for data analyses. Several important findings were found. (1) Subjects with more knowledge, more positive attitude, less barriers, and higher self-efficacy reported to provide more smoking cessation counseling to smokers. (2) Subjects had significantly higher scores in knowledge, more positive attitudes and increasing providing smoking cessation counseling in 3 and 6 month post-training compared to before training the basic point. The advanced tobacco control training (ATCT) has short-term (3 month) and lasting effects (6 months) on providing smoking cessation counseling to smokers. It suggests that the ATCT is effective and worthwhile to implement nationally and internationally to enhance the effect the tobacco control.