AIMS: The World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) requires countries to implement tobacco dependence treatment programs. To provide treatment effectively, a country needs trained individuals to deliver these services. We report on the global status of programs that train individuals to provide tobacco dependence treatment. DESIGN: Cross-sectional web-based survey of tobacco treatment training programs in a stratified convenience sample of countries chosen to vary by WHO geographic region and World Bank income level. PARTICIPANTS: Key informants in 48 countries; 70% of 69 countries who were sent surveys responded. MEASUREMENTS: Program prevalence, frequency, duration and size; background of trainees; content (adherence to pre-defined core competencies); funding sources; challenges. FINDINGS: We identified 61 current tobacco treatment training programs in 37 (77%) of 48 countries responding to the survey. Three-quarters of them began in 2000 or later, and 40% began after 2003, when the FCTC was adopted. Programs estimated training 14,194 individuals in 2007. Training was offered to a variety of professionals and paraprofessionals, but most often to physicians and nurses. Median program duration was 16 hours, but programs' duration, intensity and size varied widely. Most programs used evidence-based guidelines and reported adherence to core tobacco treatment competencies. Training programs were less frequent in low-income countries and in Africa. Securing funding was the major challenge for most programs; current funding sources were government (58%), non-government organizations (23%), pharmaceutical companies (17%) and, in one case, the tobacco industry. CONCLUSION: Training programs for tobacco treatment providers are diverse and growing. Most upper- and middle-income countries have programs, and most programs appear to be evidence-based. However, funding is a major challenge. In particular, more programs are needed for non-physicians and for low-income countries.
AIMS: The World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) requires countries to implement tobacco dependence treatment programs. To provide treatment effectively, a country needs trained individuals to deliver these services. We report on the global status of programs that train individuals to provide tobacco dependence treatment. DESIGN: Cross-sectional web-based survey of tobacco treatment training programs in a stratified convenience sample of countries chosen to vary by WHO geographic region and World Bank income level. PARTICIPANTS: Key informants in 48 countries; 70% of 69 countries who were sent surveys responded. MEASUREMENTS: Program prevalence, frequency, duration and size; background of trainees; content (adherence to pre-defined core competencies); funding sources; challenges. FINDINGS: We identified 61 current tobacco treatment training programs in 37 (77%) of 48 countries responding to the survey. Three-quarters of them began in 2000 or later, and 40% began after 2003, when the FCTC was adopted. Programs estimated training 14,194 individuals in 2007. Training was offered to a variety of professionals and paraprofessionals, but most often to physicians and nurses. Median program duration was 16 hours, but programs' duration, intensity and size varied widely. Most programs used evidence-based guidelines and reported adherence to core tobacco treatment competencies. Training programs were less frequent in low-income countries and in Africa. Securing funding was the major challenge for most programs; current funding sources were government (58%), non-government organizations (23%), pharmaceutical companies (17%) and, in one case, the tobacco industry. CONCLUSION: Training programs for tobacco treatment providers are diverse and growing. Most upper- and middle-income countries have programs, and most programs appear to be evidence-based. However, funding is a major challenge. In particular, more programs are needed for non-physicians and for low-income countries.
Authors: Alla El-Awaisi; Ahmed Awaisu; Maguy Saffouh El Hajj; Bayan Alemrayat; Ghadir Al-Jayyousi; Norman Wong; Mohamud A Verjee Journal: Am J Pharm Educ Date: 2017-06 Impact factor: 2.047
Authors: Gina R Kruse; Nancy A Rigotti; Martin Raw; Ann McNeill; Rachael Murray; Hembadoon Piné-Abata; Asaf Bitton; Andy McEwen Journal: Nicotine Tob Res Date: 2015-06-27 Impact factor: 4.244
Authors: Michael G Prucha; Susan G Fisher; Scott McIntosh; John C Grable; Heather Holderness; Kelly Thevenet-Morrison; Zahíra Quiñones de Monegro; José Javier Sánchez; Arisleyda Bautista; Sergio Díaz; Deborah J Ossip Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2015-04-13 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Gina R Kruse; Nancy A Rigotti; Martin Raw; Ann McNeill; Rachael Murray; Hembadoon Piné-Abata; Asaf Bitton; Andy McEwen Journal: J Smok Cessat Date: 2016-10-03