Development and evaluation of educational materials for medical students on smoking cessation counseling

The purpose of this project is to support the development and evaluation of self-directed learning materials for medical students. The materials will be computer-based and easily available for use in any medical training programs. The project will also serve as a prototype for student training in other health professions, and could be used as the basis of electronic CME programs. This objective will be accomplished by: (1) conducting four focus groups at two medical schools in Georgia (the Morehouse School of Medicine and the Mercer University School of Medicine) in order to gain some qualitative information about knowledge, attitudes, and behavior, as well as to obtain suggestions concerning training materials; (2) developing group materials in a self-directed, computer-based format; (3) reconvening the focus groups to obtain input on the materials and to make modifications based on the feedback; (4) surveying the knowledge of the health effects of active and passive smoking, knowledge and attitudes with respect to smoking cessation counseling procedures, behavior with regard to personal smoking habits, and intended behavior with patients who smoke; (5) providing the developed CD-ROM to the learning resource centers at the two schools and monitoring its use; and (6) conducting the same survey six months after the materials are made available to assess any changes that have occurred, and to interview those who used the materials about their use and their suggestions for modification.

Grant Details

Amount Awarded $155,338.00

Awarded on: 12/16/1998

Time frame: 1/1/1999 - 10/31/2004

Grant Number: 34237