Because a high proportion of the population, especially adolescents and young adults, regularly use tobacco products and are at risk of developing tobacco-related diseases, more needs to be done to treat tobacco addiction and to prevent its use. Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) are available for treating tobacco dependence, but there is scant evidence relating to their use or impact. The literature suggests that clinicians are often skeptical about the effectiveness of CPGs for use in everyday consultation and make insufficient use of them in their practice. Here a new approach to dissemination is proposed that targets both clinicians and school staff in Iowa and combines tobacco use cessation and prevention information. An inservice will be created from the evidence-based literature and broadcast to groups of participants in randomly selected school districts statewide via the interactive Iowa Communications Network. Participants will also work together to develop specific strategies to implement in their practices or schools. The efficacy of the model in reducing tobacco use will be tested in a randomized, controlled study. The program is expected to increase knowledge and use of tobacco–related information by clinicians and school personnel and to reduce tobacco use among patients and students. Subject to obtaining empirical support for these predictions, the proposed dissemination strategy could provide a model for adoption and further refinement in other states.
Learning Objectives: Aims to stimulate discussion and further research by proposing new method for disseminating tobacco use cessation guidelines that 1) combines cessation and prevention efforts, 2) is aimed at both clinicians and school personnel, 3) uses interactive communications technology, inservice format, and dialog methods, and 4) is designed to increase knowledge and implementation of guideline information on the part of participants as well as reduce tobacco use among patients and students.
Keywords: Chronic Diseases, Tobacco
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.