Jann Balmer (University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA); Marianna Shershneva (University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA); Mary Ales (Interstate Postgraduate Medical Association, Madison, Wisconsin, USA); Shelly Rodrigues (California Academy of Family Physicians, San Francisco, California, USA)

Synopsis

The Cease Smoking Today (CS2day) multi-organizational initiative was designed to enhance the implementation of a tobacco cessation clinical practice guideline in the US. During three years, it reached over 43,000 clinicians via 169 educational activities, 88 educational and practice-oriented resources, and collaborative projects within 11 communities. The initiative had an overall positive impact on clinicians and their patients, and generated resources and lessons learned that can be utilized by providers of continuing education who are interested in developing collaborative programs to improve clinical practice.

Purpose

In 2008, nine US-based organizations including three universities launched the Cease Smoking Today (CS2day) educational initiative to enhance the implementation of a tobacco cessation clinical practice guideline.

Methods

CS2day reached over 43,000 clinicians via certified education consisting of 150 live activities, 4 comprehensive performance improvement projects and 15 enduring activities, and dissemination of 88 educational and practice-oriented resources. Additionally, 11 unique communities ranging from private companies to virtual networks launched educational projects in collaboration with the CS2day partners. Evaluation was organized around the six levels of an outcomes-based evaluation model and was conducted using common measures and evaluation techniques, and centralized data repositories.

Results

All activities were evaluated at the levels of participation, satisfaction, and changes in knowledge and competence demonstrating the overall positive outcomes. A commitment to change approach was utilized in the majority of activities documenting intended and implemented practice changes. Various degree of improvement on the eight performance measures and a quit rate of 46.8% were observed in the performance improvement projects.

Applications

Continuing education providers who are interested in developing evidence-based programs to improve clinical practice may benefit from a collaborative approach to educational programming. CS2day experience provided insights into collaboration, interventions bridging the guideline with clinician behavior, and establishing common outcomes measures for multiple interventions.