Evaluation of a no-smoking resource pack and training for primary health care professionals

Background: This study evaluated the impact of the Nottinghamshire Smoking Resource Pack and associated workshop training for primary health care professionals in terms of their impact on smoking cessation interventions by Nottinghamshire GPs and practice nurses.Methods: A postal questionnaire survey assessed the smoking interventions, pack use and the understanding of the theoretical basis of the pack by 39 GPs and 105 practice nurses who had attended a training workshop. Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests were used to determine the associations between pack use, understanding and appropriate interventions.Results: The pack was used by 83 per cent of respondents, but only 40 per cent understood its theoretical basis well and pack use was not associated with appropriate interventions (all p>0.05).Conclusions: Changes in the training workshop were proposed and if appropriate use of the pack is increased, the results may help reduce smoking prevalence in the primary care setting.