title: Smoking cessation in family medicine: effects of an area health education center training program.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Many clinicians have not received adequate training in smoking cessation. We examined the effects of a tobacco training program on clinician behavior, attitudes, knowledge, and comfort related to smoking cessation.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a prospective cohort study, family medicine residents and faculty completed a pretest, followed by an educational intervention that encompassed presentations on smoking cessation resources, motivational interviewing, and the neurobiology of addiction and pharmacotherapy. After 3 months, participants completed a postintervention survey. Results were analyzed using chi-square tests to examine the effects of training.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-three residents and faculty completed the pretraining survey and 25 completed the posttraining survey. Following training, participants were more familiar and comfortable with Public Health Service Clinical Practice Guidelines (P < .0001). No significant differences were found in performance of the 5 As (Ask, Advise, Assess, Assist, and Arrange) or other behaviors, including providing assistance with counseling, cessation plans, resources, or pharmacotherapy. There were no improvements in knowledge of specific intervention plans or attitudes related to identifying and counseling smokers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A multidisciplinary tobacco training program increases clinician familiarity and comfort with practice guidelines, and may contribute to improving care activities that promote a healthy lifestyle. Future research should explore other interventions that have the potential of changing practice patterns on a larger scale. Future studies should also assess the effect of training programs on patient-oriented outcomes.
authors: Tracy L
authors: TL
authors: Johns
authors: Elizabeth
authors: E
authors: Lawrence
authors: Leila E
authors: LE
authors: Martini
authors: Grace E
authors: GE
authors: Dunn
authors: Zachary J
authors: ZJ
authors: Thompson
authors: Kira
authors: K
authors: Zwygart