142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

Annual Meeting Recordings are now available for purchase

307350
Tobacco Cessation Counseling Within Physical Therapist Practice: Implementation of the US Public Health Service Clinical Guidelines ("The 5 A's")

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Rose Pignataro, PT, PhD, DPT, CWS , Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida - School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tampa, FL
Smoking remains a leading public health threat. Among people with disabilities, smoking prevalence is 10% higher than non-disabled peers. Physical therapists have a unique opportunity to address smoking-related health outcomes within this population through implementation of evidence-based guidelines for tobacco cessation counseling (TCC). This study investigated current practice regarding TCC as a component of physical therapist (PT) practice, as well as potential barriers towards implementation of the United States Public Health Service Guidelines for TCC, commonly known as “The 5 A’s.” An anonymous state-wide survey was conducted in Fall 2014.  Of 220 licensed PTs throughout Florida, fewer than 20% reported prior TCC training. Less than 3% had received training in how to screen for nicotine addiction, and the vast majority (94%) were unfamiliar with “The 5 A’s.”  Only 31% reported that they regularly recommended cessation for patients who smoke. However, 74% agreed that all patients should be screened for tobacco use, and 69% believed PTs should provide TCC.  Individual barriers to provision of TCC included anticipated patient disinterest (41%) and time constraints within the clinical setting (28%).  Systems barriers included absence of dedicated personnel (71%), written patient education materials (68%), screening methods to identify patients who smoke (47%), lack of coordinated referral efforts for tobacco cessation support or interprofessional consultation (78%), and lack of administrative support for TCC (85%).  By elucidating need for improved practice, as well as potential barriers, this study forms the basis for professional education and systems modification to promote TCC as a component of PT services.

Learning Areas:

Administer health education strategies, interventions and programs
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Provision of health care to the public
Public health or related organizational policy, standards, or other guidelines

Learning Objectives:
Discuss opportunities for physical therapists to reduce tobacco use among people with disabilities through implementation of the United States Public Health Service Clinical Guidelines for Tobacco Cessation Counseling (TCC), commonly known as “The 5 A’s.” Assess current state of practice with regards to TCC as a component of PT clinical practice. Identify potential barriers towards implementation of TCC as a component of PT clinical practice, including lack of familiarity with guidelines, lack of training, and absence of system-wide support. Consider ways in which information regarding current practice and potential barriers may be used to promote improved access to smoking cessation interventions, particularly among people with physical disabilities.

Keyword(s): Tobacco Use, Practice Guidelines

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the primary investigator on this research study and author of the abstract.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.