Using an Evidence-Based Tobacco Cessation Treatment Guideline Workshop to Increase Nurses’ Skill, Confidence, and Provision of Care

Abstract Approximately 15% of adults 18 years of age or older in the United States smoke tobacco. Over 16 million people who smoke tobacco have a related disease. Since nurses comprise the largest group of health care providers in the country, they could have a big impact on client cessation efforts. Many nurses, however, feel unprepared to provide evidence-based smoking cessation counseling (SCC) per established national guidelines. The aim of this project was to provide a brief workshop providing nursing students and faculty training. The theory of planned behavior was used as a framework to measure attitudes toward providing SCC, perceived subjective norms to provide SCC, perceived behavioral control as measured by ability and confidence to provide SCC, and intent to provide the counseling. Data analysis found a significant increase in all five variables. This suggests that providing SCC education to nursing students and faculty can be effective in increasing their intent to incorporate this care into practice