title: Training psychiatrists and advanced practice nurses to treat tobacco dependence.
abstract: The lack of availability of continuing medical education programs on tobacco dependence for psychiatrists and psychiatric nurses is profound. We developed a 2-day curriculum delivered in November 2006 and March 2007 to 71 participants. Ninety-three percent ( n = 66) completed a pretest/posttest, and 91% (n = 65) completed the attitudes and beliefs survey. Scores on the pretest were low (M = 47% correct). Paired t tests found significant increases in raw scores from 6.7 to 13.6, t(65) = -22.8, p < .0001. More than 90% of psychiatrists and nurses indicated that motivating and helping patients to stop smoking and discussing smoking behavior were part of their professional role. Although 80% reported that they usually ask about smoking status, fewer reported recommending nicotine replacement (34%), prescribing pharmacotherapy (29%), or referring smokers to a telephone quit line (26%). Trainings are repeated twice a year because of ongoing demand. Further follow-up should evaluate changes in practices after training.
authors.affiliation: UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and UMDNJ-School of Public Health, New Brunswick, NJ, jill.williams@umdnj.edu.
authors.forename: Jill M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Marc L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Steinberg
authors.forename: Mia Hanos
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Zimmermann
authors.forename: Kunal K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Gandhi
authors.forename: Gem-Estelle
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Lucas
authors.forename: Dawn A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Gonsalves
authors.forename: Ivy
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pearlstein
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McCabe
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Galazyn
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Salsberg