Incremental Benefits of Multiple Tobacco Control Interventions: A Factorial Randomized Control Trial

Tobacco control requires a comprehensive approach. The present study aims to examine the incremental effectiveness of health systems intervention when combined with other interventions in enhancing knowledge and practices of physicians in tobacco cessation. METHODS: A randomized control trial was conducted among 437 physicians in 12 districts of two states of India in 2011-13. The interventions consisted of Health Systems (H), Community (C) and Youth intervention (Y). Administrative Blocks /Mandals were randomly assigned to one of the three interventions (HC /HCY/HY) and control units. The health system intervention consisted of training physicians and developing a system of patient support and supervision for tobacco cessation. The primary outcome was change in knowledge and practices of physicians in tobacco cessation. Logistic regression model was applied to assess the impact of single and combination of interventions. RESULTS: An increase in knowledge was observed on effects of tobacco on adverse birth outcomes, advice on NRT and, information provided on chronic disease management among physicians in HC, HY and HCY intervention units compared to control units from pre-intervention to post-intervention. Statistically significant change was observed in knowledge of physicians on effects of tobacco on adverse birth outcomes in HC (OR- 4.75, p-0.02) and HCY (OR- 5.08, p-0.04) intervention units. CONCLUSIONS: HCY intervention was most effective in enhancing knowledge and practices of physicians in tobacco cessation. Our study suggests that individual tobacco control interventions when combined together has an incremental effect and increases the likelihood of provision of tobacco cessation services in primary care.