Using an Interactive Self-Directed Module to Teach Nicotine Use Disorder Management
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5195/ijms.2023.3274Keywords:
electronic nicotine delivery systems, E-learning, nicotine use disorder, Smoking cessation, Clinical EducationAbstract
Background
Tobacco use is the largest and most preventable cause of morbidity and mortality. Though cessation counseling is an effective treatment, its priority is lowered in overcrowded medical curriculums, reducing students’ confidence in clinical counseling. Self-directed e-modules help with didactic lectures and could be used to teach nicotine cessation practices. This study evaluated an interactive self-direct module on students’ knowledge acquisition and confidence in nicotine use disorder management.
Methods
This pre-post interventional study had 155 medical students complete the module between January and December 2022. Students were given knowledge-based pre- and post-module tests, and later a post-module survey to evaluate their learning experience and comfort with nicotine use disorder management. Paired differences between pre- and post-module tests were assessed for the overall- and question-specific scores. The survey data was qualitatively analyzed.
Results
The module significantly improved students' overall test scores with a mean difference of 13.4 (IQR: 10.5-16.3) between the pre- and post-module tests. There was a significant increase in understanding of electronic nicotine devices' role in smoking cessation (difference: 29.7; IQR: 21.2-38.2), evidence-based pharmacology therapy (difference:15.5; IQR: 9.2-21.8), and combination treatment plans (difference: 16.1; IQR: 8.8-16.1). Topics related to diagnosis and the harms of electronic nicotine devices showed no significant change. Additionally, students self-reported a significant improvement in comfort with nicotine use disorder management (difference: 0.75; IQR: 0.58-0.93). Finally, most students (53%) did not have concerns about learning from the module.
Conclusion
Medical students developed knowledge of and confidence in nicotine use disorder management with this interactive self-directed e-module.
References
Zhou S, Van Devanter N, Fenstermaker M, Cawkwell P, Sherman S, Weitzman M. A study of the use, knowledge, and beliefs about cigarettes and alternative tobacco products among students at one US medical school. Acad. Med. 2015;90(12):1713-19.
Elfandi S, Poudyal H. Tobacco Cessation Curriculum in Medical Schools: a Scoping Review. JCE. 2023;38(5):1614-23.
Herold R, Schiekirka S, Brown J, Bobak A, McEwen A, Raupach T. Structured smoking cessation training for medical students: a prospective study. N&TR. 2016;18(12):2209-15.
Raupach T, Al-Harbi G, McNeill A, Bobak A, McEwen A. Smoking cessation education and training in UK medical schools: a national survey. N&TR. 2015;17(3):372-5.
Hauer KE, Carney PA, Chang A, Satterfield J. Behavior change counseling curricula for medical trainees: a systematic review. Acad. Med. 2012;87(7):956-68.
Cook DA, Levinson AJ, Garside S, Dupras DM, Erwin PJ, Montori VM. Internet-based learning in the health professions: a meta-analysis. JAMA, 2008;300(10):1181-96.
Ayoub F, Moussa M, Papatsoris AG, Abou Chakra M, Chahine NB, Fares Y. The online learning in medical education: A novel challenge in the era of COVID-19 pandemic. Hellenic Urology. 2020;32(2):89-96.
Moriates C, Valencia V, Stamets S, Joo J, MacClements J, Wilkerson L, Cox SM. Using interactive learning modules to teach value-based health care to health professions trainees across the United States. Acad. Med. 2019;94(9):1332-6.
Esquela-Kerscher A, Krishna NK, Catalano JB, Lundberg PS, Kerry JA. Design and effectiveness of self-directed interactive learning modules based on PowerPoint™. Med. Sci. Educ. 2016;26:69-76.
SAS Institute Inc., SAS 9.5, Cary, NC: SAS Institute Inc., 2024.
Varma S. Preliminary item statistics using point-biserial correlation and p-values. EDSI. 2016;16(07):1-7.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Akanksha Aggarwal
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- The Author retains copyright in the Work, where the term “Work” shall include all digital objects that may result in subsequent electronic publication or distribution.
- Upon acceptance of the Work, the author shall grant to the Publisher the right of first publication of the Work.
- The Author shall grant to the Publisher and its agents the nonexclusive perpetual right and license to publish, archive, and make accessible the Work in whole or in part in all forms of media now or hereafter known under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License or its equivalent, which, for the avoidance of doubt, allows others to copy, distribute, and transmit the Work under the following conditions:
- Attribution—other users must attribute the Work in the manner specified by the author as indicated on the journal Web site; with the understanding that the above condition can be waived with permission from the Author and that where the Work or any of its elements is in the public domain under applicable law, that status is in no way affected by the license.
- The Author is able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the nonexclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the Work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), as long as there is provided in the document an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post online a prepublication manuscript (but not the Publisher’s final formatted PDF version of the Work) in institutional repositories or on their Websites prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work. Any such posting made before acceptance and publication of the Work shall be updated upon publication to include a reference to the Publisher-assigned DOI (Digital Object Identifier) and a link to the online abstract for the final published Work in the Journal.
- Upon Publisher’s request, the Author agrees to furnish promptly to Publisher, at the Author’s own expense, written evidence of the permissions, licenses, and consents for use of third-party material included within the Work, except as determined by Publisher to be covered by the principles of Fair Use.
- The Author represents and warrants that:
- the Work is the Author’s original work;
- the Author has not transferred, and will not transfer, exclusive rights in the Work to any third party;
- the Work is not pending review or under consideration by another publisher;
- the Work has not previously been published;
- the Work contains no misrepresentation or infringement of the Work or property of other authors or third parties; and
- the Work contains no libel, invasion of privacy, or other unlawful matter.
- The Author agrees to indemnify and hold Publisher harmless from the Author’s breach of the representations and warranties contained in Paragraph 6 above, as well as any claim or proceeding relating to Publisher’s use and publication of any content contained in the Work, including third-party content.
Enforcement of copyright
The IJMS takes the protection of copyright very seriously.
If the IJMS discovers that you have used its copyright materials in contravention of the license above, the IJMS may bring legal proceedings against you seeking reparation and an injunction to stop you using those materials. You could also be ordered to pay legal costs.
If you become aware of any use of the IJMS' copyright materials that contravenes or may contravene the license above, please report this by email to contact@ijms.org
Infringing material
If you become aware of any material on the website that you believe infringes your or any other person's copyright, please report this by email to contact@ijms.org
