Elsevier

Mayo Clinic Proceedings

Volume 76, Issue 2, February 2001, Pages 144-151
Mayo Clinic Proceedings

Original Article
A Free Smoking Intervention Clinic Initiated by Medical Students

https://doi.org/10.4065/76.2.144Get rights and content

Objective

To describe a medical student-run smoking intervention clinic, report initial outcomes, and assess medical student competence in smoking intervention counseling.

Patients and Methods

Volunteer medical students of Mayo Medical School in Rochester, Minn, staffed a free smoking intervention clinic in conjunction with the Salvation Army Free Acute Care Clinic between December 1997 and January 1999. Patients received a comprehensive intervention for smoking that comprised counseling, frequent follow-up contact, and pharmacologic therapy, including bupropion and nicotine replacement. Eighty-eight patients seen during the first 13 months of the clinic's operation and 30 medical student volunteer counselors were included in the study. Patients were contacted via telephone to assess 6-month self-reported smoking abstinence. Medical student counselors completed a self-assessment questionnaire surveying competence before and after working in the clinic.

Results

The 6-month self-reported smoking abstinence rate was 18% (95% confidence interval, 11%-28%). Twelve of 14 medical students completing the survey reported improved competence in smoking intervention counseling.

Conclusions

A comprehensive smoking intervention program provided by medical students yielded smoking abstinence rates comparable to other treatment programs. Medical students believed they improved their smoking cessation counseling skills.

Section snippets

Initiation/Training

In October 1997, all first- and second-year medical students at Mayo Medical School (approximately 84 students) were invited to participate as counselors at the Salvation Army Free Smokers’ Clinic (SAFSC). Interested medical students attended a 2-hour training workshop on smoking intervention provided by physicians and counselors from the Mayo Clinic Nicotine Dependence Center (NDC). The training was based on Agency for Health Care Policy and Research Guidelines for Smoking Intervention (Ask,

RESULTS

Baseline demographics and clinic utilization data for the 88 patients included in the study are displayed in Table 1. Of the 88 patients included in the study, 40 were lost to followup. Of the 48 contacted by telephone, 44 completed the interview, and 4 refused.

DISCUSSION

Service-learning programs for medical students provide meaningful practical experience while serving community needs. Most medical schools do not specifically educate medical students in the treatment of cigarette smokers,15, 20 and a service-learning clinic such as the SAFSC may fill the gap present in most formal medical school curricula. To our knowledge, this is the first report to describe a service-learning program designed and run by medical students that delivered a comprehensive

CONCLUSIONS

The SAFSC demonstrates that a free smoking intervention clinic operated by medical students under the guidance of volunteer licensed physicians is feasible if it has proper funding, community support, and guidance. It provides a treatment resource to individuals who might otherwise be unable to afford such support. In addition, medical students who participate in such a clinic learn to assist confidently their future patients in stopping smoking using both counseling techniques and

Acknowledgments

Wae thank Richard D. Hurt, MD, and Ivana T. Croghan, PhD, for their valuable comments.

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  • Cited by (0)

    This study was supported in part by the Mayo Foundation Clinical Research Committee. Salvation Army provided space and administrative personnel, office supplies, and some medications. Glaxo Wellcome donated some medications.

    1

    Dr Der is now with the Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center, Los Angeles, Calif.

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