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Tobacco Control 2004;13:74-77
© 2004 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd

RESEARCH PAPER

A study of smoking and smoking cessation on the curricula of UK medical schools

E Roddy1, P Rubin2, J Britton3 on behalf of the Tobacco Advisory Group of the Royal College of Physicians

1 Division of Respiratory Medicine, School of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
2 Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Nottingham
3 Division of Epidemiology and Public Health, School of Community Health Sciences, University of Nottingham

Correspondence to:
Dr Elin Roddy
Division of Respiratory Medicine, Clinical Sciences Building, Nottingham City Hospital, Hucknall Road, Nottingham NG5 1PB, UK; elin.roddy{at}nottingham.ac.uk

Objectives: To identify current practice in teaching on smoking and smoking cessation in UK medical schools, and establish whether newly qualified UK doctors feel prepared to deliver smoking cessation interventions.

Design: Search of published curricula from all UK medical schools; questionnaire surveys of all UK medical school deans and UK qualified pre-registration house officers (PRHOs).

Participants: Deans or nominated representatives from all 24 UK medical schools with current undergraduates, and all UK qualified PRHOs.

Main outcome measures: Inclusion and organisation in curriculum of 15 predefined core topics related to smoking (deans); perceived readiness to deliver smoking cessation interventions (PRHOs).

Results: There was no mention of smoking or smoking cessation in the published curriculum material of 10 (42%) medical schools. Deans reported compulsory teaching on a mean (SD) of 9.5 (2.8) core topics, while PRHOs recalled compulsory teaching in only 6.6 (3.2). Training in clinical aspects of smoking cessation was particularly neglected, with 60% of PRHOs reporting that they graduated unable to deliver smoking cessation interventions in accordance with national guidelines. Only 17% of PRHOs felt well prepared to deliver advice on using nicotine replacement therapy, and 5% on bupropion.

Conclusions: Teaching on smoking cessation in UK medical schools is inadequate.

Keywords: medical schools; curricula; cessation; nicotine; education

Abbreviations: GP, general practitioner; NHS, National Health Service; NRT, nicotine replacement therapy; PRHO, pre-registration house officers




eLetters:

Read all eLetters

Teaching Medical Students to take tobacco use seriously
Stephen L. Hamann
Tobacco Control Online, 25 Feb 2004 [Full text]
Minimal Training in Tobacco-Control May be Epidemic
Melbourne F Hovell, Ph.D., M.P.H., et al.
Tobacco Control Online, 19 Mar 2004 [Full text]
Smoking cessation in curricula- the challenges are linked to health promotion
Ann M Wylie
Tobacco Control Online, 14 Apr 2004 [Full text]

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