title: Differences in Substance Abuse Counselors' Knowledge of Tobacco Cessation Medication Effectiveness: 2002-2008.
abstract: Counselors play a supportive role in patients' substance abuse treatment, including tobacco cessation. Thus, counselors should be knowledgeable about tobacco cessation medications (TCMs). This study examined differences in counselors' knowledge of and familiarity with (i.e., diffusion) bupropion and nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) between 2002 and 2008 and identified predictors of diffusion. Repeated cross-sectional questionnaire data were obtained in 2002/04 from 992 counselors and in 2007/08 from 1,226 counselors working in private treatment programs. Results indicated that more counselors in 2007/08 did not know about bupropion to rate its effectiveness than in 2002/04; no differences were found for NRT. Among both samples of counselors who were familiar with TCMs, effectiveness was rated higher in 2007/08 than in 2002/04. Findings suggest that educated and trained counselors are important in diffusing TCMs. Knowledgeable counselors may be able to educate patients interested in tobacco cessation about available treatments and encourage compliance with TCMs.
authors.affiliation: the Institute for Behavioral Research at the University of Georgia. Her research focuses on substance use disorder treatment issues, adoption and implementation of evidence-based practices in treatment programs, and work-force development.
authors.forename: Tanja C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Rothrauff
authors.affiliation: the Center for Research on Behavioral Health and Human Services Delivery at the University of Georgia. Her expertise is in alcohol abuse and alcoholism treatment, and innovation of adoption of evidence-based practices in the addiction treatment system.
authors.forename: Amanda J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Abraham
authors.affiliation: the Center for Research on Behavioral Health and Human Services Delivery at the University of Georgia. He has expertise in substance abuse and substance abuse treatment after three decades of research in these fields.
authors.forename: Paul M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Roman