To educate healthcare providers in the PHS Clinical Practice Guidelines and their vital role with identifying and assisting their tobacco using patients. Teach them evidence-based approaches to intervene with their patients and the importance of developing systems to screen patients for tobacco use and refer and/or offer them evidence-based treatment.

Methods:

Health care providers play a key role in motivating tobacco users to make a quit attempt. Training for evidence-based tobacco dependence treatment increases provider confidence and spurs effective patient interventions. Common barriers to accessing training include: availability; relevance; timing; and, location. In July 2005, the NYS BTUPC recruited eleven Tobacco Cessation Center representatives to serve on a planning committee for a new educational initiative – statewide, bi-monthly, lunch-time, telephone conference calls. Drawing from a prioritized list of key topics -speakers are identified and invited to participate “long distance”. Power point presentations are required and made downloadable from the NYS Quitline's website. Calls are marketed through an e-mail process. A downloadable evaluation tool captures crucial comments. As a result, the conference call has evolved to better meet the needs of NYS providers, including offering CME credits.

Results:

In 10 months (3/2006 – 1/2007) listener ship increased from 139 to 359.

Conclusions:

Telephone medium easily links nationally respected speakers with health care professionals. Internet access permits timely: educational material; and evaluation outcome data. Stakeholder involvement enhances program quality and strengthens provider confidence to intervene with tobacco users.