Training Programs for Improving Provider Support in Tobacco Cessation

Overseen By Ashley Clawson, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Arkansas

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

300 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

The Black Health Block Quit and Screen Project seeks to engage Black health care providers in helping Black smokers quit tobacco use, including menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars, and screen for lung cancer early as strategies to reduce multiple chronic disease disparities. The goal of this clinical trial is to test the feasibility and impact of the Black Health Block Culturally Tailored Training alone versus the Health Disparities and Lung Cancer Screening Training + the Black Health Block Culturally Tailored training modules on changes in knowledge, attitudes, and behavioral intentions related to provider advice to quit smoking and referrals for low dose computed tomography among health care providers randomly assigned to each condition. Participants will complete the training modules and complete pre- and post-tests to assess these outcomes.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether participants must stop taking their current medications.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Black Health Block Culturally Tailored training, Health Disparities and Lung Cancer Screening training in tobacco cessation?

Research shows that when healthcare providers are trained to give advice on quitting tobacco, patients are more likely to stop using tobacco. Additionally, interventions that focus on educating and engaging communities have shown potential in addressing health disparities, which could be beneficial for improving tobacco cessation support among racially and ethnically minoritized groups. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is the training program for improving provider support in tobacco cessation safe for participants?

The research articles do not provide specific safety data for the training programs, but they focus on educational interventions for healthcare providers, which are generally considered safe as they involve learning and communication skills rather than medical treatments. ^{2 3 4 6 7}

How does the Black Health Block Culturally Tailored training differ from other tobacco cessation treatments?

This treatment is unique because it focuses on culturally tailored training for healthcare providers to better support African American patients in quitting tobacco, addressing specific health disparities and improving provider-patient interactions. It emphasizes the importance of understanding social and cultural influences, which is not typically a focus in standard tobacco cessation programs. ^{2 7 8 9 10}

Research Team

Pebbles Fagan, PhD, MPH

Principal Investigator

University of Arkansas

Mignonne Guy, PhD

Principal Investigator

Virginia Commonwealth University

Ashley Clawson, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Arkansas

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for Black healthcare providers. It aims to empower them to assist Black smokers in quitting, particularly menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars, and encourage early lung cancer screening.

Inclusion Criteria

I can refer smokers to a patient navigator.

Currently screens clients for tobacco use in the clinic

Will provide contact email, address and phone.

Exclusion Criteria

Not applicable.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

Training

Providers complete online training modules, including pre- and post-tests to assess knowledge, attitudes, and behavioral intentions.

1 day

Online training session

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for retention and adherence to training modules, and feedback is collected.

4 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Black Health Block Culturally Tailored training
• Health Disparities and Lung Cancer Screening training

Trial Overview The study tests two training modules: one on cultural tailoring called the 'Black Health Block Culturally Tailored Training' and another combined with 'Health Disparities and Lung Cancer Screening Training'. Providers are randomly assigned to either module to see which better improves their advice on quitting smoking and lung cancer screening referrals.

Participant Groups

Group I: Black Health Block Culturally Tailored training alone Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Providers in this arm will only complete the Black Health Block Culturally Tailored training. This online course will be developed for healthcare providers and will fill gaps in knowledge and attitudes toward lung cancer screening and smoking not covered by Health Disparities and Lung Cancer Screening (HDLCS) training.

Group II: Black Health Block Culturally Tailored training + Health Disparities and Lung Cancer Screening Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

In this arm, providers will complete the Health Disparities and Lung Cancer Screening training and the Black Health Block Culturally Tailored training. The Black Health Block Culturally Tailored training is an online course being developed to fill gaps in knowledge and attitudes toward lung cancer screening and smoking not covered by Health Disparities and Lung Cancer Screening.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Arkansas

Lead Sponsor

Trials

500

Recruited

153,000+

National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)

Collaborator

Trials

473

Recruited

1,374,000+

Virginia Commonwealth University

Collaborator

Trials

732

Recruited

22,900,000+

Coalition for a Tobacco Free Arkansas

Collaborator

Trials

3

Recruited

640+

National Medical Association

Collaborator

Trials

1

Recruited

300+

Findings from Research

Lung cancer screening (LCS) is effective in reducing lung cancer mortality among high-risk smokers, but its adoption is limited, especially among racially and ethnically minoritized groups, highlighting a significant health disparity.

Interventions that streamlined the LCS process at clinics were found to be the most effective, while community-level efforts focused on education showed promise in engaging minoritized populations, indicating a need for more targeted research and standardized outcomes in future studies.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Interventions to improve lung cancer screening among racially and ethnically minoritized groups: A scoping review. Nam, J., Krishnan, G., Shofer, S., et al.[2023]

Approximately 45% of cancer patients had missing tobacco use history in their electronic medical records, highlighting a significant gap in screening that could affect treatment outcomes.

Stakeholders expressed a strong interest in improving tobacco screening and cessation services, but identified barriers such as cultural differences, time constraints, and lack of training, indicating a need for tailored interventions to enhance tobacco cessation efforts among diverse patient populations.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Implementation planning for equitable tobacco treatment services: a mixed methods assessment of contextual facilitators and barriers in a large comprehensive cancer center. Tsui, J., Sloan, K., Sheth, R., et al.[2023]

A systematic review of 21 studies revealed significant disparities in lung cancer screening (LCS) outcomes for Black and socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals, highlighting that these groups often miss out on the benefits of LCS, which contributes to higher mortality rates from nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

The study identified critical areas of inequity in the LCS pipeline, including eligibility criteria, utilization, and follow-up care, and recommends further research and targeted interventions to improve access and outcomes for marginalized populations.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Racial and socioeconomic disparities in lung cancer screening in the United States: A systematic review. Sosa, E., D'Souza, G., Akhtar, A., et al.[2022]

References

1. Ireland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Interventions to improve lung cancer screening among racially and ethnically minoritized groups: A scoping review. [2023]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Health care provider tobacco cessation counseling among current African American tobacco users. [2022]

3. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Development and Evaluation of Brief Web-Based Education for Primary Care Providers to Address Inequities in Lung Cancer Screening and Smoking Cessation Treatment. [2023]

4. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of patient-provider race concordance and smoking status on lung cancer risk perception accuracy among African-Americans. [2022]

5. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Implementation planning for equitable tobacco treatment services: a mixed methods assessment of contextual facilitators and barriers in a large comprehensive cancer center. [2023]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Racial and socioeconomic disparities in lung cancer screening in the United States: A systematic review. [2022]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Commentary: Educational and Clinical Training for Addressing Tobacco-Related Cancer Health Disparities. [2023]

8. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Advancing Proficiencies for Health Professionals in the Treatment of Tobacco Use Among Marginalized Communities: Development of a Competency-Based Curriculum and Virtual Workshop. [2023]

9. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Tobacco Screening Practices and Perceived Barriers to Offering Tobacco Cessation Services among Texas Health Care Centers Providing Behavioral Health Treatment. [2023]

10. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

African-American physicians and smoking cessation counseling. [2022]