Using evidence-based educational strategies to increase knowledge and skills in tobacco cessation

To meet the demand for improved patient outcomes and accountability for healthcare delivery, nurses must embrace a culture of evidence-based practice (EBP). Integrating EBP for tobacco cessation in nursing practice is particularly important for the 44.5 million smokers in the United States who contribute to $157 billion of healthcare costs annually. Unfortunately, studies reveal that healthcare providers are not aware of what is considered the best evidence, the United States Public Health Service Clinical Practice Guideline: Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence, resulting in missed opportunities to promote optimal health outcomes for individuals wanting to quit smoking. Fortunately, leading healthcare authorities such as the Joint Commission of Accreditation for Healthcare Organizations and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services now require providers to offer tobacco cessation services. The challenges and opportunities to do this effectively are many and with limited resources it will be increasingly important to ensure that nurses have the necessary knowledge and skills to improve tobacco cessation outcomes. For tobacco cessation interventions to become a standard of nursing practice, strategic efforts must be directed at advancing nursing research that evaluates best educational strategies for promoting tobacco cessation interventions within nursing curricula. In this article, a framework to help address nursing strategies to bridge the gap between EBP and tobacco cessation will be described.