Value of blended teaching in graduate tobacco medicine training: a prospective intervention study

INTRODUCTION: Tobacco use remains a critical global public health challenge, particularly in developing countries. As future healthcare providers, medical students and physicians play important roles in smoking cessation interventions. This study evaluates how systematic tobacco medicine training impacts medical graduate students' smoking cessation knowledge and attitudes. METHODS: This prospective intervention study was conducted at Chongqing Medical University, China, from 2022 to 2024. A total of 540 graduate students were enrolled and randomly assigned (1:1) to an untrained group (n=270) or a trained group (n=270). The untrained group received no training, while the trained group underwent a 6-week blended tobacco medicine training, comprising 12 online and six offline courses. Post-intervention, an online questionnaire and test were used to assess attitudes and knowledge. Data were analyzed using independent t-tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, chi-squared tests, or Fisher's exact tests for group comparisons; multivariable linear regression models were employed to adjust for baseline characteristics and evaluate the intervention's impact. RESULTS: The trained group achieved significantly higher cognitive scores regarding smoking cessation compared to the untrained group (mean difference=1.03; 95% CI: 0.73-1.33, p<0.001). Multivariable regression analysis indicated that training was positively associated with cognitive scores (B=0.92; 95% CI: 0.64-1.20, p<0.001), whereas current smoking status, longer smoking duration, and male gender were negatively associated. Regarding knowledge, the trained group demonstrated higher accuracy rates in most items (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Systematic blended tobacco medicine training effectively improves medical graduate students' knowledge and attitudes toward smoking cessation. Integrating such training into medical education is essential for preparing future professionals to support tobacco control.