Development of a Web-Based Tobacco Cessation Educational Program for Pediatric Nurses and Respiratory Therapists

Background: Nurses can be effective in providing advice and counseling to tobacco-using parents of hospitalized pediatric patients. However, lack of training in effective interventions is a barrier to the incorporation of tobacco cessation interventions into routine practice. This article describes the development and evaluation of a web-based tobacco cessation educational program aimed at pediatric nurses and respiratory therapists. Method: The program was developed with input from four focus groups of nurses, respiratory therapists, and educators. The interactive training program was evaluated by 33 nurses and 17 respiratory therapists employed at a children's hospital. Results: After completing the program, participants reported a significant change in their knowledge, attitudes, perceived barriers, and self-efficacy toward providing tobacco cessation interventions to their patients' parents. Conclusion: The results of the evaluation of the program were extremely promising, and further investigation is warranted.