Health Professions Student Training

The A.T.T.A.C. Health Professions Student Training Program brings health professions students together to learn about tobacco abuse, prevention and cessation issues. Students who participate in this program benefit from an increased understanding of the pharmacology of nicotine, tobacco use, and NRT; increased awareness of the effects of smoking and tobacco use; improved knowledge of how to help patients change unhealthy behaviors; and develop or enhance skills for dealing with dependent/addicted patients.

A.T.T.A.C. incorporates online learning modules, live training sessions, and service learning opportunities into the curriculum to ensure that health professions students receive comprehensive training on the consequence of tobacco use and, most importantly, on how to counsel patients to avoid or stop tobacco use. A key component of the program is motivational interviewing, a highly effective technique for counseling patients on any variety of unhealthy behaviors.

The Health Professions Student Training is comprised of three major components:

A.T.T.A.C. Orientation provides health professions students and faculty with specific information about the program goals, strategies and expected outcomes.  Students are required (and faculty are encouraged) to complete a selected number of Tobacco CME modules.  See the Tobacco CME page for more information. 

The Day of Learning is a 4-5 hour training session on tobacco issues, the importance of intervening with tobacco users, and the need to deter youth from initiating use. The students are also instructed on providing interactive anti-tobacco presentations to middle school students as part of the service learning component of the A.T.T.A.C. Program.

In the Day of Service (DOS) students are deployed into middles schools where they will serve as role models while teaching sixth graders about the consequences of tobacco use. The students use a lesson plan with creative teaching methods, learning activities, and games specifically designed for middle school students. 

Data Forms

Health professions students will be required to submit several data forms to Gulfcoast South AHEC in order to receive credit for participation in the Day of Service.  Click here for more information on which forms are required and for copies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sponsored by Gulfcoast South AHEC and the State of Florida, Department of Health.

 


For more information about A.T.T.A.C. please contact:

Emily M. Hite
Tobacco Training Coordinator
ehite@health.usf.edu

Tiffany Prater, MA
Clinical Training Coordinator
tprater@health.usf.edu

rule

IT IS PROVEN that a brief intervention from a clinician will greatly increase the chance of a patient’s successful quit. Please review the following resources for more information on how you can help your patients:

CDC Best Practices for Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs 2007

Public Health Services Tobacco Guidelines

Pharmacy RX for Change Program

UPDATED 2008 Clinical Practice Guidelines for Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence

Surgeon General’s Report

Counseling to Prevent Tobacco Use

Bibliography

rule

For more information on the global damage done by the tobacco industry, check out www.cap-at.org.

rule

If you are a smoker and interested in quitting, please click here for information on how to quit.

QuitTeam Logo