Research shows that training clinicians in smoking cessation methods may increase patients' cessation rates, as such training increases the number of people identified as smoking and advised to quit.
Training increases health professionals' knowledge, skills, confidence, and likelihood of practicing smoking-related interventions. Such training should include practical guidance, resources and communication skills training for delivering cessation interviews, as well as education on the clinical benefits of quitting.
Quit Centre provides cessation online training and clinical tools and guidelines for a range of health professionals and cessation training should be a core part of ongoing professional development.
References
Greenhalgh, EM, Stillman, S and Ford, C. 7.10 Role of health professionals and social services. In Greenhalgh, EM, Scollo, MM and Winstanley, MH [editors]. Tobacco in Australia: Facts and issues. Melbourne: Cancer Council Victoria; 2025. Available from https://www.tobaccoinaustralia.org.au/chapter-7-cessation/7-10-role-of-general-practice-and-other-health-pro