Tobacco education in US physician assistant programs.
BACKGROUND
Few health degree programs incorporate sufficient tobacco cessation education in core curricula.


METHODS
A national survey of 132 PA programs assessed the extent to which tobacco is addressed, educational methods, perceived importance and adequacy of tobacco education, and perceived barriers to enhancing tobacco-related content.


RESULTS
Surveys (n = 99; 75%) revealed a median of 150 minutes of tobacco education throughout the degree program. Key barriers to enhancing training are lack of curriculum time and lack of access to comprehensive, evidence-based resources. Two-thirds expressed interest in participating in a nationwide effort to enhance tobacco cessation training.


CONCLUSIONS
Similar to other disciplines, enhanced tobacco education is needed in PA programs to adequately prepare graduates to address the primary known cause of preventable death in the United States.
Houston
Lisa N
LN
Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
Warner
Mary
M
Corelli
Robin L
RL
Fenlon
Christine M
CM
Hudmon
Karen Suchanek
KS
D006266:Health Education / Q000592:standards*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D010823:Physician Assistants / Q000193:education*; D011361:Professional Competence / Q000592:standards*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D020340:Tobacco Use Cessation; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014481:United States