• Rose M Pignataro, Matthew J Gurka, Dina L Jones, Ruth E Kershner, Patricia J Ohtake, William T Stauber, and Anne K Swisher.
• R.M. Pignataro, PT, PhD, DPT, CWS, School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL 33612 (USA). rpignata@health.usf.edu.
• Phys Ther. 2014 Sep 1; 94 (9): 1294-305.

BackgroundThe US Public Health Service (USPHS) recommends tobacco cessation counseling (TCC) training for all health care professionals. Within physical therapist practice, smoking can have adverse effects on treatment outcomes in all body systems. In addition, people with physical disabilities have a higher smoking prevalence than the general population, creating a strong need for tobacco cessation among physical therapy clientele. Therefore, TCC training is an important component of entry-level physical therapist education.ObjectiveThe aims of this study were: (1) to determine need for TCC training within entry-level physical therapist education and (2) to identify potential barriers to implementation of USPHS guidelines in the academic environment.DesignA descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted.MethodsDirectors or academic coordinators of clinical education from entry-level physical therapist programs (N=204) were surveyed using an online instrument designed specifically for this study. Data regarding program and faculty characteristics, tobacco-related training content, and faculty opinions toward TCC in both physical therapist practice and education were analyzed descriptively.ResultsThe response rate was 71%. A majority (60%) of programs indicated inclusion of tobacco-related training, most commonly 1 to 2 hours in duration, and of these programs, 40% trained students in the implementation of USPHS clinical guidelines for TCC.LimitationsData analyses were constrained by limited or missing data in some areas. A single faculty member completed the survey for each program.ConclusionsThere is a need for TCC training in entry-level physical therapist education. Inclusion may be facilitated by addressing perceived barriers toward TCC as a component of physical therapist practice and promoting the relevance of TCC as it relates to intended outcomes of physical therapy interventions.© 2014 American Physical Therapy Association.

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