FRUITFUL: Development of a training program on smoking cessation in Latin America

Background 
Tobacco consumption is increasing in low-income countries that is the case of some countries of Latin American and Caribbean regions. Currently, 120 million smokers live in these countries and half of them suffer from tobacco-related diseases and consequently require additional healthcare services. The WHO estimates that in Latin America mortality from tobacco-related diseases will increase 700% by 2030 if necessary measures to curb tobacco consumption will be not taken. Offering help to quit smoking is one of the WHO recommended effective policies and, therefore, active involvement of health professionals is essential. The FRUITFUL project aims to cover the lack of training programs on tobacco cessation the Spanish speaking countries in Latin America.

Overall Objective 
The FRUITFUL project aims to adapt a distance learning course developed in the Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO) to the reality of three Latin American countries (Bolivia, Guatemala and Paraguay) to promote evidence-based smoking cessation interventions among health professionals in these countries.

Methodology

Three hospitals in Bolivia, Guatemala and Paraguay offered to all health professionals an online training course on smoking cessation through the e-oncology platform. The training program “Brief Intervention” will allow health professionals to identify, evaluate and treat smokers in their daily practice. The evaluation model employs the triangulation of qualitative and quantitative methods. A pre-post assessment of knowledge, attitudes and level of performance in smoking cessation interventions of the participants will be carried out as a qualitative evaluation. For quantitative evaluation, in-depth interviews and focus groups will assess satisfaction of the project, barriers and opportunities offered by the course.

Duration
Novembre 2014- Novembre 2016.

Financial Support
Grant GB-13520139 (99.360 $). The study is financed by Global Bridges: Healthcare Alliance for Tobacco Dependence Treatment, hosted at Mayo Clinic, and Pfizer Independent Grants for Learning and Change (IGLC).

Research Team

• Cristina Martínez  (PI, ICO-IDIBELL)
• Esteve Fernández (PI, ICO-IDIBELL)
• Assumpta Company (ICO)
• Olga Guillen (ICO)
• Mercè Margalef (ICO)
• Martha Alicia Arrien (Instituto Oncológico del Oriente Boliviano de Santa Cruz de la Sierra-Bolivia)
• Claudia Sánchez C (Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare Paraguay)
• Paula Cáceres (Oncology Institute and Hospital of Dr. Bernardo del Valle, Guatemala)

• Proyecto Fruitful: primera reunión de investigadores
• Proyecto Fruitful: 250 clínicos de Latino América formados online en tabaquismo
• Developing a tobacco cessation training program in Latin American countries