17 Smoking Cessation for Pregnancy and Beyond: A Virtual Clinic

Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Exhibit Hall (Kansas City Convention Center)
Ms. Van Tong, MPH , Division of Reproductive Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Dr. Joseph Henderson, MD, MPhil, MA , Interactive Media Laboratory, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, NH
Dr. Patricia Dietz, DrPH, MPH , Division of Reproductive Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Dr. Lucinda England, MD, MSPH , Office on Smoking and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Ms. Jennifer Bombard, MSPH , Division of Reproductive Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this presentation attendees will be able to:

  1. - Describe how to access a highly interactive web-based smoking cessation training for clinicians, nurses, health educators, pharmacists, health professional students, and health department staff who treat women of reproductive age, especially pregnant women.

Audience: Healthcare professionals and public health practitioners who are interested in helping female patients quit smoking, such as clinicians, nurses, health educators, pharmacists, health professional students, and health department staff (e.g., WIC).

Key Points: This session will provide an overview of an updated interactive web-based training for healthcare professionals who will be assisting their female patients in quitting smoking, in particular, patients who are pregnant or in their child-bearing years. The virtual practicum will teach learners how to apply principles of the 5 A's intervention, a best practice approach for smoking cessation, which reflects current clinical recommendations from the US Public Health Service Guidelines for Treatment of Tobacco Use and Dependence 2008 update and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. This program offers various learning tools, including: interactive case simulations and comprehensive discussions of the patient visits; mini-lectures on relevant topics from leading experts; interviews with real patients who have quit; and a dedicated web site of links and office resources. After completing the virtual practicum, learners will be able to apply for continuing education credits.

Educational Experience: The session will provide individuals an overview of an interactive web-based training for personal use or for promotion among healthcare professionals in their state. 

Benefits: The Affordable Care Act requires Medicaid coverage of counseling and pharmacotherapy for cessation of tobacco use by pregnant women. Healthcare professionals will be able to learn best practice approaches to help pregnant women quit smoking to improve the health of the mother and infant.