title: Training Malaysian Pharmacy Undergraduates with Knowledge and Skills on Smoking Cessation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the feasibility of an online training module, Certified Smoking Cessation Service Provider (CSCSP), developed for practicing pharmacists to equip pharmacy students with knowledge necessary for smoking cessation counseling and to assess the changes in student knowledge and skills regarding smoking cessation following training.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty third-year and 80 fourth-year pharmacy undergraduates (N=140) were given access to an online module, the main intervention in the study. Two linkable questionnaires were administered to assess students' preintervention and postintervention knowledge. For the third-year students, an additional role-play training component was incorporated, and student skills were assessed during week 14 with an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Preintervention and postintervention knowledge assessments were completed by 130 (92.8%) students. Sixty-six students scored above 50% for the knowledge component postintervention, compared to 13 at preintervention, demonstrating significant improvement (x2(1, N=130)=32, p=0.003). All third-year students completed the intervention, and 66.7% were able to counsel excellently for smoking cessation, scoring more than 80%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The CSCSP online module developed for practicing professionals was found suitable for equipping pharmacy undergraduates with knowledge on smoking cessation topics. The module, along with role-play training, also equipped students with knowledge and skills to provide smoking cessation counseling.
authors.affiliation: International Islamic University of Malaysia, Kuantan, Pahang Darul Makmur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Saraswathi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Simansalam
authors.affiliation: International Islamic University of Malaysia, Kuantan, Pahang Darul Makmur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Joan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Brewster
authors.affiliation: International Islamic University of Malaysia, Kuantan, Pahang Darul Makmur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Mohamad Haniki
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Nik Mohamed
mesh_terms: D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods; D003479:Curriculum; D004512:Education, Pharmacy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D009862:Online Systems; D012907:Smoking; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D013339:Students, Pharmacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Malaysia; active learning; pharmacy curricula; pharmacy undergraduates; smoking cessation