Stop smoking practitioners working at the English stop smoking services: self-reported practices, attitudes and levels of training
Author(s)
Dr Mairtin McDermott, Dr Leonie Brose and Dr Andy McEwen
Presenter(s)
Dr Mairtin McDermott Research Associate, NHS Centre for Smoking Cessation and Training (NCSCT)
Abstract
Background
Stop smoking practitioners are a vital part of each NHS Stop Smoking Service (SSS) in England, yet little is known about this important group of health professionals who treat over 700,000 smokers per year. The current study reports on the self-reported practices, attitudes and current levels of training of stop smoking practitioners working at the SSSs.
Methods:
484 stop smoking practitioners working at SSS in England completed an online survey.
Results
In general practitioners appeared to be offering a good service, although some deviations from best practice were apparent. Levels of continuing professional development and professional supervision that practitioners receive were low. There were also differences in self-reported quit rates between 'core' and 'community' stop smoking practitioners. Although practitioners felt positive about working in smoking cessation, they reported low levels of perceived job security and felt opportunities for progression within the profession were poor.
Conclusions
Gaps between current and best practice need to be addressed and levels of continuing professional development and professional supervision should be improved. More should be done to make practitioners feel secure in their role. Further research should be conducted to understand and address observed differences between ‘core’ and ‘community’ stop smoking practitioners.
Source of funding: The NCSCT is funded by the Department of Health.
Declaration of interest: Mairtin McDermott and Leonie Brose have no competing interests. AMC receives a personal income from Cancer Research UK via University College London. He has received travel funding, honorariums and consultancy payments from manufacturers of smoking cessation products (Pfizer, J&J, McNeil, GSK, Nabi, Novartis and Sanofi-Aventis). He also receives payment for providing training to smoking cessation specialists; receives royalties from books on smoking cessation and has a share in a patent of a nicotine delivery device.
