Developing skilled professionals to combat tobacco use: Evaluating the impact of "Aacharya – A Tobacco Treatment Training Program"

Abstract

Aim

Tobacco use is a leading preventable cause of morbidity and mortality. In India, tobacco cessation training is rarely integrated into healthcare education. This study evaluates the effectiveness of the Aacharya Tobacco Treatment Specialist Training Program, India's first accredited program by the Council for Tobacco Treatment Training Programs (CTTTP), USA, in enhancing healthcare professionals (HCPs) knowledge, self-efficacy, attitudes, and counselling skills for tobacco cessation.

Methods

In 2022, a pre-and post-evaluation study was conducted across eight cities in five Indian states with 803 HCPs nominated by state health departments. Participants underwent 24 h of training via 12 pre-recorded modules and 3 live sessions, including role-plays, case discussions, and quizzes. Five domains—barriers, self-efficacy, attitudes, counselling approach, and knowledge—were assessed. Qualitative feedback was analyzed using thematic analysis. Paired data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test (p < 0.05).

Results

Training significantly reduced perceived barriers to counselling, with a 2.7-point decrease (p = 0.001). Self-efficacy scores rose by 6.4 points (p = 0.001), indicating greater confidence in delivering tobacco cessation interventions. Attitude scores improved with a 0.9-point positive shift (p = 0.001). Counselling approaches saw a 1.0-point enhancement, emphasizing patient-centred techniques and motivational interviewing (p = 0.001). Knowledge scores increased by 4.1 points (p = 0.001), reflecting better comprehension of key concepts.

Conclusion

The Aacharya program effectively improves HCPs’ skills, confidence, and knowledge in tobacco cessation. Its flexible, scalable format can bridge critical training gaps, supporting sustainable tobacco control and reducing associated health and economic burdens in India.