What competences are needed for behavioural support for smoking cessation?

Author and presenter:
Robert West
Professor of Health Psychology, Cancer Research UK Health Behaviour Research Centre, University College London and UK Centre for Tobacco Control Studies

Abstract
The aim of this workshop is to provide participants with an opportunity to discuss and comment on the competences needed for the role of stop smoking specialist. The NCSCT has undertaken a comprehensive review of the competences required and evidence to support these. We have identified a total of 90 such competences relating to individual and group-based support. Many are specific to smoking cessation such as the ability to measure CO and advise on stop smoking medication and some relate to effective communication such as the ability to establish rapport and elicit and answer questions. Others relate to the professional role such as the ability to keep accurate records and work in a team. The workshop will present the competences identified and their evidence base and the participants will then be given an opportunity to consider which of them they think are the most important, which ones they feel confident that they possess, and for those participants who have used the NCSCT online training course how far they feel that this has helped with developing those competences.

Source of funding: Department of Health, Cancer Research UK

Declaration of interest: Robert West undertakes research and consultancy and receives fees for speaking from companies that develop and manufacture smoking cessation medications. He also has a share of a patent for a novel nicotine delivery device. His funding is primarily from Cancer Research UK and the Department of Health. He is a trustee of the stop-smoking charity, QUIT.

About the presenter
Robert West is a Professor of Health Psychology and Director of Tobacco Studies at the Cancer Research UK Health Behaviour Research Centre of University College London. He is also co-director of the NHS Centre for Smoking Cessation and Training, funded by the Department of Health. He has published some 300 scientific works and is coauthor of the English and Scottish National Smoking Cessation Guidelines that provided the blueprint for the UK-wide network of NHS smoking-cessation services. He is also the Editor-in-Chief of Addiction and President Elect of the Society for Research in Nicotine and Tobacco.