Innovative online smoking prevention education for pediatric providers, 'tween' girls, and their families

Abstract

Now more than ever, technology use by pediatricians and family physicians and their patients has redefined the traditional patient–provider relationship with greater communication and exchange of health information. Pediatrics in Practice and the No Smoking Room offer a powerful online strategy to address gaps in pediatric and family physician practice and patient education in smoking prevention. This online educational model — empowering both provider and patient in smoking prevention information — is a one-of-a-kind program in the tobacco counseling field. With the rise of new technology and rapid adoption of its use as a tool for improved healthcare practice and patient education, providers and patients are in a position to forge a renewed path of meaningful partnership, effective communication, and trust for the improved health of children and their families. In order to showcase technology's dynamic role in the professional development of today's pediatricians and family physicians and in patient education, this paper demonstrates the value of an innovative, online educational intervention in delivering comprehensive smoking prevention counseling skills for busy health professionals and its companion smoking prevention program for young 8–11-year-old females, known as the 'tween' market.

Keywords:

• DISTANCE EDUCATION
• PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
• PATIENT EDUCATION
• HEALTH PROMOTION
• SMOKING PREVENTION
• WEB-BASED HEALTH INTERVENTION