EVALUATING FAMILY PHYSICIANS’ ROLE IN TOBACCO CESSATION

ABSTRACT

Background: Smoking remains one of the most preventable causes of morbidity and mortality, significantly impacting public health. Despite the availability of clinical guidelines for smoking cessation, physician intervention rates remain low due to barriers such as limited time, inadequate training, and lack of confidence. This study evaluates the impact of a structured smoking cessation training program on the knowledge, confidence, and practices of healthcare providers in delivering smoking cessation counseling. Methods: A pretraining and posttraining survey design was used to assess changes in knowledge, attitudes, and practices among 30 family medicine residents and 20 faculty members. The training included didactic lectures, role-playing, group discussions, and evidence-based guidelines for smoking cessation, such as the 5 As approach and motivational interviewing techniques. Data were analyzed using chi-square tests to compare pre- and posttraining responses, with the Bonferroni correction applied for multiple comparisons. Results: Following the training, the percentage of participants who regularly asked patients about tobacco use increased from 62.2% to 86.4% (p = 0.02), while those assisting with cessation planning improved from 40.0% to 75.0% (p = 0.01). Confidence in using motivational interviewing techniques significantly increased, with the ability to "roll with resistance" improving from 35.6% to 72.7% (p = 0.004) and the use of open-ended questions rising from 44.4% to 81.8% (p = 0.007). Additionally, prescribing rates for nicotine replacement therapy increased from 51.1% to 84.1% (p = 0.008), and willingness to prescribe varenicline rose from 26.7% to 63.6% (p = 0.01). Conclusion: The smoking cessation training program significantly enhanced healthcare providers’ knowledge, confidence, and clinical practices related to smoking cessation counseling. The findings highlight the effectiveness of structured educational programs in improving provider engagement in tobacco cessation efforts. Future research should explore additional strategies to sustain and further enhance these improvements in clinical practice.

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