Development of a state wide tobacco treatment specialist training and certification programme for Massachusetts
UMass Chan Affiliations
Department of Medicine, Division of Preventive and Behavioral MedicineDocument Type
Journal ArticlePublication Date
2000-12-07Keywords
Adult*Certification
*Education
Female
Health Personnel
*Health Promotion
Humans
Male
Massachusetts
Mental Health Services
Middle Aged
Smoking
Specialties, Medical
Life Sciences
Medicine and Health Sciences
Women's Studies
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
OBJECTIVE: To describe the research conducted to structure and develop a statewide tobacco training and certification programme for tobacco treatment specialists (TTSs) in Massachusetts. DESIGN: Qualitative research strategies were used to obtain information on certification development and opinions regarding TTS training and certification from key informants. A role definition and validation study was then conducted to determine the core competencies for TTSs. A comprehensive training programme was developed, piloted, and finalised, and a certification programme was initiated. PARTICIPANTS: Key informants included: individuals involved in the development of their professional certification programmes; tobacco treatment providers from across Massachusetts; and national tobacco treatment experts. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Participants' opinions about the need for and structure of a training and certification programme for individuals specialising in the provision of moderate to intensive tobacco treatment; delineation of core competencies for TTSs, using the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (now the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality) clinical practice guideline as a foundation for the development of evidence based standards of practice for the treatment of nicotine dependence. RESULTS: The data support a comprehensive training and certification programme for TTSs in Massachusetts. Main concerns include the cost of obtaining certification, the potential to exclude uncertified healthcare professionals from delivering basic tobacco treatment, and the role of the TTS in the healthcare delivery system and the community. The training programme developed for Massachusetts was piloted, and the structure of a statewide training and certification programme for TTSs was finalised. CONCLUSIONS: The research provides support for the need and acceptance of a training and certification programme for TTSs in Massachusetts, and presents the challenges to be addressed. We demonstrated the feasibility of developing and implementing an evidence based training programme, and of initiating a statewide certification programme in Massachusetts. This work will add to a national dialogue on the development of a training and certification programme for tobacco treatment providers and encourage further research into the potential impact of statewide and national certification.Source
Tob Control. 2000 Dec;9(4):372-81. Link to article on publisher's siteDOI
10.1136/tc.9.4.372Permanent Link to this Item
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14038/50864PubMed ID
11106706Related Resources
Link to article in PubMedae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1136/tc.9.4.372