1. Evaluation of the two-stage training programme for stop smoking practitioners provided by the NHS Centre for Smoking Cessation and Training (NCSCT)

Principal Investigators: Dr Andy McEwen, Professor Robert West, Professor Susan Michie, University College London

Research Associate: Dr Leonie Brose

Funded by the Department of Health, UK.

Background: The NCSCT was commissioned by the Department of Health to identify the competences required to deliver, manage and commission smoking cessation support in England, to develop and implement methods of assessment to ensure that stop smoking practitioners, managers and commissioners possess these competences and to commission and provide training and continuing support to allow staff to achieve the required level of competence. The NCSCT provides a two-stage training to practitioners; the first stage is an online training and assessment programme to deliver knowledge-based competences, the second stage focuses on skills-based competences and is delivered as face-to-face courses.

Aim: To validate the knowledge assessment used in Stage 1 of the training and to evaluate the training programme in terms of acceptability, impact on knowledge and on confidence in competences required to deliver effective interventions.

Methods: Analysis of change in knowledge during Stage 1 of the training, assessed using multiple choice questions. Validation of knowledge assessment using free-text responses to knowledge questions. Analysis of practitioners’ confidence in their competence to deliver effective interventions before and after Stage 2 of the training. Tracking trainees’ evaluation of the training programme.

2. Factors associated with success of NHS stop smoking services

Principal Investigator: Professor Robert West, University College London

Research Associate: Dr Leonie Brose

Funded by Cancer Research UK.

Background: The English network of stop smoking services are among the National Health Service’s best-value life-preserving clinical interventions and are internationally renowned. However, success varies considerably across services.

Aims: To examine factors that influence the effectiveness of stop smoking service interventions and to determine what constitutes the most effective treatment.

Methods: Stop smoking services record data on client and intervention characteristics and outcome of treatment; over 30 services using a particular software to record their data have agreed to share anonymised data for research purposes. Complex sample procedures are used to analyse association of characteristics of the intervention with outcome whilst adjusting for client characteristics.

3. Annual surveys of commissioners, managers and practitioners of NHS Stop Smoking Services (SSS) in England

Principal Investigators: Dr Andy McEwen, Professor Robert West, Professor Susan Michie, University College London

Research Associate: Dr Máirtín McDermott

Background: In 2009, the NCSCT conducted the first of a planned series of annual surveys. This survey served primarily to assess the self-reported training needs of practitioners, managers and commissioners, but also collected data on these professionals’ self-reported activities, attitudes towards smoking and smoking cessation as well as demographic and professional characteristics.

Aim: To provide a snapshot of activities and attitudes of commissioners, managers and practitioners for 2010 and to compare findings between surveys.

4. Development and evaluation of an interactive, internet-based smoking cessation intervention (the ISCI Trial)

Principal Investigators: Professor Robert West, Professor Susan Michie, University College London

Researchers: Dr Jamie Brown, Dr Benjamin Gardner Sood, Andy McEwen, Dr Lion Shahab, John Stapleton, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London; Sascha Miller, Dr Judy Joseph, Professor Lucy Yardley, University of Southampton

Funded by the Medical Research Council under the National Prevention Research Initiative.

Background: Internet-based interventions can help smokers to stop compared with brief written materials or not intervention. However, they are not widely used in most countries, particularly by more economically disadvantaged  smokers. Moreover, there is significant variation in effectiveness of those evaluated thus far. There is a need for a generally available internet-based smoking cessation intervention in the UK that will be attractive across the social spectrum and of proven effectiveness.

Aim: To develop an internet-based cessation intervention, which has particular appeal to disadvantaged smokers, and determine its efficacy.

Methods: Using open-source intervention software, we will develop and pilot a highly interactice website, informed by a broad motivational (PRIME), empirical evidence from smoking research and experience derived from website design. We will engage disadvantaged smokers in usability testing and qualitative feedback studies, before evaluating the intervention in a randomized controlled trial with at least 4,000 UK smokers, approximately half from disadvantaged groups and half from the general population. The control internet site will present simple advice and information on smoking cessation. The primary outcome measure will be self-report of at least 6 months continuous abstinence, which will be verified by expired air CO or salva cotinine.