ATTACIT (AHEC Tobacco Training and Cessation-Initial Trainin

The ATTAC-IT Program is a component of the overall UF AHEC Tobacco Training and Cessation (ATTAC) Program. UF AHEC is part of a statewide Network of AHECs funded provide tobacco training and cessation throughout the State of Florida. The overall goal o ATTAC Program is to strengthen the capacity of Floridas healthcare system to deliver eff evidence-based tobacco use treatment, cessation, and prevention services throughout th state. This is done in keeping with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Practices for Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs.

ATTAC-ITs goal is to ensure that all health professions students receive tobacco education during the course of their program providing them with the skills necess work with patients and clients in tobacco cessation.

Health professions students (HPS) are targeted because most health care providers tradi receive insufficient education in tobacco to be able to effect patient behavior change in th treatment of tobacco dependence. Middle school students are the other target group. Wit of tobacco initiation beginning prior to the age of 18, it is important to reach children early preferably before they have been faced with the decision of whether or not to use tobacco appeal of HPS as role models for youth is a crucial component of the Program. Converse HPS placed as educators in middle school classrooms will be motivated to learn the mate more thoroughly and in ways that may also affect their personal and professional behavio double-pronged approach focuses on provision of accurate didactic information to interdisciplinary groups of HPS from universities, colleges, and vocational technology sch as well as provision of engaging, age-appropriate tobacco prevention education for middl school students.

An Annual Learning Event: The Afternoon of Learning for HPS is the first component, w typically occurs within the first few weeks of the students beginning their health profession programs. This training session focuses on the science, epidemiology, and treatment of t addiction. After completing individual preparatory materials, the students come together in large-group lecture to reinforce and expand on this information. Included in this is an introduction to motivational interviewing techniques. Small-group cooperative learning act are also included in the training. Combining a mix of Medical, Dental, Nursing, Pharmacy Physician Assistant, Public Health, and other HPS where possible lends strength both to academic program and future bridging of gaps between healthcare disciplines. The skills learned in the session can also be applied to other areas of health risk behaviors.

An Applied Learning Day or Service Day: The second component of this project reinfo the tobacco Afternoon of Learning by sending the trained HPS into the community in teac teams of two to four students to engage middle school youth in tobacco prevention educa and activities. Groups take a kit of classroom teaching aids featuring a trigger videotape consisting of five to six vignettes to area middle school classrooms. For many HPS this is first experience providing health education, a role that is an important part of their future practice as health professionals.

Since 2007, the UF AHEC Program has trained over 5,000 health professions stude and provided an anti-tobacco message to over 73,000 middle school youth in its 37 county region.

Funding for the UF AHEC Tobacco Training and Cessation Program Afternoon of Learnin provided through the Florida Department of Health as part of Floridas Comprehensive To Control Program. Funding for the Day of Service is provided as part of a collaborative HR grant through the UF College of Dentistry.

For more information on the ATTAC-IT Program, or if you are a teacher who would like to team of health professions students, please contact: Paola Ferst, MS, CHES, TTS Coordinator, Tobacco Education Programs pferst@ufl.edu 352-273-8530 Visit http://ahectobacco.com for more information.