title: Improving Tobacco Dependence Treatment Delivery: Medical Student Training and Assessment.
abstract: Tobacco dependence is a chronic condition, with cigarette smoking considered the leading cause of preventable death, disease, and disability in the U.S. Currently, the U.S. adult smoking rate is 17.8%. National surveys reveal that approximately half of all smokers who have been treated by a healthcare provider in the last 12 months received Public Health Service-recommended guideline-concordant tobacco dependence treatment. Although smoking prevalence has been declining, several disparate groups continue to smoke at rates significantly higher than the national average, including those with low income, low educational attainment, or mental health disorders. To address these disparities and more effectively address tobacco use, provision of guideline-concordant tobacco dependence treatment within the healthcare system must improve. We discuss changes to the medical licensing examination that may result in enhanced tobacco dependence treatment education and skills training for students in medical school.
authors.affiliation: North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, New York. Electronic address: pfolan@nshs.edu.
authors.forename: Patricia A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Folan
authors.affiliation: New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York.
authors.forename: Harlan R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Juster
authors.affiliation: Center for Tobacco Free Hudson Valley, White Plains, New York.
authors.forename: Susan E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Lennon
authors.affiliation: St. Joseph's Hospital, Syracuse, New York.
authors.forename: Patricia J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Briest
authors.affiliation: Canton-Potsdam Hospital, Potsdam, New York.
authors.forename: C Beth
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Gero
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004501:Education, Medical / Q000379:methods*; D004521:Educational Measurement; D006801:Humans; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D013337:Students, Medical; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology