Increasing the Quality and Availability of Evidence-based Treatment for Tobacco Dependence through Unified Certification of Tobacco Treatment Specialists

Abstract

Each year, tobacco use causes over 6 million deaths and is responsible for hundreds of billions of dollars in health care and economic costs in the world (WHO, 2011). If current trends continue, tobacco is expected to kill over 1 billion people in the 21st century, making it one of the single greatest causes of preventable death and disease in history (WHO, 2011). Long-term abstinence from tobacco use dramatically improves individuals’ health, reduces the incidence of tobacco-related disease, and is clearly responsible for saving lives (Anthonisen et al., 2005). Most tobacco users express a desire to achieve long-term abstinence from tobacco use and make numerous unsuccessful quit attempts over the course of many years (Borland, Partos, Yong, Cummings, & Hyland, 2012; CDC, 2011). Evidence-based treatments for tobacco use and dependence greatly improve the chances that quit attempts result in long-term abstinence (Chambless & Hollon, 1998; Chambless et al., 1998; Compas, Haaga, Keefe, Leitenberg, & Williams, 1998; Fiore et al., 2008; Zwar et al., 2004). Increasing the availability of high-quality evidence-based treatment for tobacco use and dependence will make it more likely that tobacco users use evidence-based treatments and that quit attempts translate into long-term abstinence. The professionalisation of treatment for tobacco dependence by the development of a rigorous, unified Tobacco Treatment Specialist (TTS) certification process will increase the availability of high-quality evidence-based treatment for tobacco use and dependence for all tobacco users.

Commentary: Educational and Clinical Training Considerations for Addressing Tobacco-Related Cancer Health Disparities

“…The accreditation process was predicated on the development of a comprehensive collection of 11 Tobacco Dependence Treatment Core Competencies each with corresponding skill sets. 28 Currently, there are 19 Council-accredited tobacco treatment training programs led by established leaders in tobacco treatment training and practice. Smokers treated by clinicians with specialist training are more likely to achieve long-term abstinence than smokers treated by clinicians without specialist training.…”

Billing Practices Among US Tobacco Use Treatment Providers

“…In 2008, the Council for Tobacco Treatment Training Programs (the Council; www.ctttp.org) was established to accredit programs that train TTSs. Accredited programs must cover 11 Tobacco Dependence Treatment Core Competencies (Sheffer et al, 2015). Clinicians who attend TTS training programs come from multiple disciplines and work in a variety of health care settings.…”

The Emerging Global Tobacco Treatment Workforce: Characteristics of Tobacco Treatment Specialists Trained in Council-Accredited Training Programs from 2017 to 2019

“…Although there are dozens of different tobacco treatment training programs worldwide, little is known about the characteristics of individuals who seek advanced training in the treatment of TUD [ 15 , 44 , 64 ]. Established in 2008, the Council for Tobacco Treatment Training Programs ( (accessed on 24 February 2021)) has developed an interdisciplinary approach to implementing training standards [ 65 ] for Tobacco Treatment Specialists (TTSs) with the goal of ensuring that TTSs are prepared to meet the needs of dynamic, diverse, and complex populations of tobacco users in diverse settings. As the number of accredited training programs and trainees has grown, little is known about the nature of the accredited programs and the trainees and whether the Council and these training efforts are well-positioned to meet the needs of tobacco users in diverse settings.…”