Developing a fully integrated tobacco curriculum in medical colleges in India
Author
Yamini, T. R.Nichter, M.
Nichter, M.
Sairu, P.
Aswathy, S.
Leelamoni, K.
Unnikrishnan, B.
P, P. M.
Thapar, R.
Basha, S. R.
Jayasree, A. K.
Mayamol, T. R.
Muramoto, M.
Mini, G. K.
Thankappan, K. R.
Affiliation
Achutha Menon Centre for Health Science Studies, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Science and TechnologySchool of Anthropology, University of Arizona
Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Arizona
Department of Community Medicine, T.D. Medical College
Department of Community Medicine, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences
Department of Community Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University
Department of Community Medicine Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute
Department of Community Medicine, Academy of Medical Sciences
Issue Date
2015
Metadata
Show full item recordPublisher
BioMed Central LtdCitation
Yamini et al. BMC Medical Education (2015) 15:90 DOI 10.1186/s12909-015-0369-3Journal
BMC Medical EducationRights
© 2015 Yamini et al.; licensee BioMed Central. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)Collection Information
This item is part of the UA Faculty Publications collection. For more information this item or other items in the UA Campus Repository, contact the University of Arizona Libraries at repository@u.library.arizona.edu.Abstract
BACKGROUND: This paper describes a pioneering effort to introduce tobacco cessation into India's undergraduate medical college curriculum. This is the first ever attempt to fully integrate tobacco control across all years of medical college in any low and middle income country. The development, pretesting, and piloting of an innovative modular tobacco curriculum are discussed as well as challenges that face implementation and steps taken to address them and to advocate for adoption by the Medical Council of India. METHODS: In-depth interviews were conducted with administrators and faculty in five medical colleges to determine interest in and willingness to fully integrate smoking cessation into the college curriculum. Current curriculum was reviewed for present exposure to information about tobacco and cessation skill training. A modular tobacco curriculum was developed, pretested, modified, piloted, and evaluated by faculty and students. Qualitative research was conducted to identify challenges to future curriculum implementation. RESULTS: Fifteen modules were successfully developed focusing on the public health importance of tobacco control, the relationship between tobacco and specific organ systems, diseases related to smoking and chewing tobacco, and the impact of tobacco on medication effectiveness. Culturally sensitive illness specific cessation training videos were developed. Faculty and students positively evaluated the curriculum as increasing their competency to support cessation during illness as a teachable moment. Students conducted illness centered cessation interviews with patients as a mandated part of their coursework. Systemic challenges to implementing the curriculum were identified and addressed. CONCLUSIONS: A fully integrated tobacco curriculum for medical colleges was piloted in 5 colleges and is now freely available online. The curriculum has been adopted by the state of Kerala as a first step to gaining Medical Council of India review and possible recognition.EISSN
1472-6920PubMed ID
25990861PubMed Central ID
PMC4455282Version
Final published versionAdditional Links
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6920/15/90ae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1186/s12909-015-0369-3 [doi]
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