A Tobacco Treatment Specialist Training Evaluation: Lessons learned within the Alaska Native Tribal System

The prevalence of smoking in Alaska Natives is 43 percent, the highest of any group in the United States. The Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC) has been providing treatment and technical assistance to Alaskan Tribal Health facilities statewide in the development of capacity and infrastructure needed for comprehensive tobacco control programs for Alaska Natives. ANTHC is the only statewide credentialing agency offering Tobacco Treatment Specialist (TTS) training and certification in Alaska. It is also the only Association for the Treatment of Tobacco Use and Dependence (ATTUD) TTS curriculum that has been uniquely adapted to fit the needs of a culturally diverse disparate population. The goal of this study was to review the short-term impact and cultural acceptability of the TTS training program at ANTHC.

Analysis were based on pre and post test training scores from 102 past TTS participants as well as results from 58 TTS participant surveys administered electronically.The TTS pre and post testing score means were 65% and 84.9% respectively (t = -16.55, p=<0.0001). Participant survey results indicate that the TTS training provides increase knowledge and skills in a cultural adapted format that fits the needs of healthcare providers.

Results suggest that the ANTHC TTS training program had a positive effect on the needs of past TTS participants. Implications for this study are far reaching especially as they related to the adaption of ATTUD recognized TTS trainings. Further adaptations of the curriculum to fit the needs of Alaskan healthcare professionals will be dependent on this study.