Tobacco-Related Knowledge Among Employees at Substance Use Treatment and Medical Healthcare Centers Serving Rural and Medically Underserved Patients with Substance Use Disorders in Texas, USA

Jedidiah A. Feyisetan, Maggie Britton, Tzuan A. Chen, Isabel Martinez Leal, Mhyank S. Sekhar, Teresa Williams, Kathleen Casey, Ammar D. Siddiqi and Lorraine R. Reitzel ()
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Jedidiah A. Feyisetan: Department of Behavioral Science, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1155 Pressler Street, Houston, TX 77030, USA
Maggie Britton: Department of Behavioral Science, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1155 Pressler Street, Houston, TX 77030, USA
Tzuan A. Chen: Department of Psychological, Health, and Learning Sciences, University of Houston, McElhinney Hall, 3623 Cullen Blvd., Houston, TX 77204, USA
Isabel Martinez Leal: Department of Behavioral Science, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1155 Pressler Street, Houston, TX 77030, USA
Mhyank S. Sekhar: Department of Behavioral Science, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1155 Pressler Street, Houston, TX 77030, USA
Teresa Williams: Integral Care, 1430 Collier Street, Austin, TX 78704, USA
Kathleen Casey: Integral Care, 1430 Collier Street, Austin, TX 78704, USA
Ammar D. Siddiqi: Department of Behavioral Science, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1155 Pressler Street, Houston, TX 77030, USA
Lorraine R. Reitzel: Department of Behavioral Science, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1155 Pressler Street, Houston, TX 77030, USA

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 11, 1-16

Abstract: Background: Tobacco use, and particularly cigarette smoking, is elevated among patients with substance use disorders (SUDs), resulting in health inequities. In rural and medically underserved areas (MUAs), healthcare access is limited; thus, patients with SUDs may receive care in substance use treatment centers (SUTCs) and/or medical healthcare centers (MHCs). Healthcare providers in these settings should know the importance and benefits of quitting tobacco use for patients with SUDs, as this is essential for effective cessation care. This study examined baseline provider knowledge/training receipt and knowledge gains following training in SUTCs and MHCs serving rural and MUAs of Texas, USA. Methods: From 2021 to 2024, 428 providers from 8 SUTCs and 8 MHCs completed an e-survey on tobacco knowledge and past-year training. They then completed 1 to 1.5 h of training. Knowledge gain was assessed via a 10-item test delivered pre- and post-training. Results: Pre-training knowledge and past-year training rates were low across settings; providers at SUTCs were more likely than those at MHCs to know that persons with behavioral disorders like substance misuse are 2 times more likely to smoke than the general USA population. Both groups demonstrated significant knowledge gains from training (SUTCs: 37.41% and MHCs: 45.92% increases; ps < 0.0001). Conclusions: Findings support the need for routine tobacco training in healthcare centers serving rural and MUAs of Texas. Brief educational sessions may help address provider knowledge gaps and, ultimately, strengthen cessation care and reduce tobacco-related disparities in these settings.

Keywords: rural; tobacco cessation intervention; smoking; tobacco use; medically underserved; substance use treatment center; medical healthcare centers; tobacco use disparities; low income/low SES; cancer prevention; professional education and training (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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