Building Capacity of Portuguese Nurses to be Tobacco Control Champions

Abstract

Introduction Tobacco consumption is a known significant risk factor for many avoidable diseases, making it an important target in health promotion efforts worldwide. There are over 71,800 nurses in Portugal, but most of them are not trained in tobacco control. Previous experiences showed Training-of-Trainers design efficacy. The present work aimed at filling this educational gap and build capacity among Portuguese nurses for evidence-based cessation interventions in clinical practice. Methods Education workshops and webcasts on tobacco dependence treatment were applied from October 2017 to January 2019 and its efficacy evaluated using a descriptive, pre-post design. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM® SPSS® Statistics vs.24.0 software at a confidence level of 95%. Comparisons of the responses between the initial moment and the final moment were performed using the Wilcoxon test. Results A total of 72 nurses attended the 5 workshops at different locations in continental Portugal. After the program, we observed an increase in the number of nurses that: 1) advise patients to stop smoking (p=0,002); 2)assess whether patients are interested in quitting smoking (p=0,001); 3)recommend using a telephone line for smoking cessation (p=0,001); 4)analyse the barriers to cessation with patients who are not interested in trying to cease (p=0,002); and 5)advise patients and their families to create a smoke-free home environment after hospital discharge (p=0,002). Conclusion the program was effective in changing nurses attitudes towards their role in tobacco control. Although short- and medium-term beneficiaries of the project are nurses, the ultimate beneficiaries are smokers supported in their tobacco cessation efforts.