Evaluation of a training workshop on tobacco cessation: capacity building initiative in India

Abstract

Background The World Health Organization's (WHO) Tobacco Free Initiative highlights the role of health care professionals such as nurses, pharmacists, counselors and related support staff, in implementing smoking-cessation services. However, to be competent in providing smoking-cessation interventions, they need to establish and demonstrate knowledge, skills, and confidence in this field. Methods Pre-Post quasi-experimental design was used in this study to test the effectiveness of the educational training program. A total of 90 healthcare professionals, including nurses, nursing trainees, psychology trainees, social workers and trainees attended the workshop. Seventy six completed the pre-post assessment as a part of the one day workshop at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. The tool developed by the researchers included twenty questions evaluating the knowledge, attitude and skills related to Tobacco cessation activities. Each item in the questionnaire had a score of one for correct and zero for incorrect responses. Paired sample t-test was performed to compare the scores on above parameters. Ethical approval was obtained from Institute Ethics Committee. Results The participants were predominantly females (80.26%) with professional experience of up to 3 years (Mean = 1.68; SD ± 0.84) in various healthcare related activities. There was a statistically significant improvement in total scores after the workshop as compared to before (Mean change: 2.86; t = 8.71, p< 0.001). The improvement was statistically significant in both knowledge related (t = 7.46, p< 0.001) and attitude/ skills related scores (t = 2.94, p=0.004). The level of professional experience and previous attending workshops could not statistically predict change in scores. Conclusions The workshop proved to be an effective approach in enhancing knowledge and imparting attitudinal changes in the healthcare professionals. Continued educational programs should be organized for capacity building in Tobacco cessation activities.

Keywords

• WCTOH