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Abstract

Tobacco use remains disproportionately high among adults living with mental illnesses (MIs), contributing to excess morbidity and mortality, particularly in high-burden states such as Kentucky. Behavioral healthcare providers are well-positioned to address this disparity but often lack formal training in evidence-based tobacco treatment. Tobacco Treatment Specialist (TTS) training provides healthcare providers with skills to deliver evidence-based tobacco treatment; however, traditional TTS training models often rely on synchronous, in-person or live virtual formats, which may limit accessibility for some healthcare workforces. Asynchronous, web-based delivery models may reduce these barriers. This study evaluates a targeted, asynchronous TTS training program designed for providers working in Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) across Kentucky between 2020 and 2024. Using a one-group post-test-only design to assess engagement and completion and a one-group pre-test–post-test design among completers, we examined program outcomes and changes in knowledge and attitudes. Eligible participants were nominated by the administrative team at each CMHC. Of 100 registered participants, 70.0% enrolled and 55.0% completed the program. Among completers (n = 55), knowledge scores increased significantly from pre- to post-test (t[51] = 7.6, p < 0.001). Participants also reported significant improvements in perceived skills (t[51] = 7.9, p < 0.001) and knowledge of resources to deliver tobacco treatment (t[51] = 7.8, p < 0.001), while perceived time to deliver services did not change significantly. These findings suggest that asynchronous TTS training is a feasible approach to improving tobacco treatment knowledge and confidence among behavioral health providers, though additional strategies may be needed to enhance completion and assess practice-level impact.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2026

Notes/Citation Information

© 2026 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph23050580

Funding Information

This project is supported in part by the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Department for Medicaid Services, under Agreement titled “Behavioral Health Tobacco Dependence Treatment for Kentucky Medicaid Recipients”. AND Department of Public Health, Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program, under an agreement titled: “Enhancing Tobacco Dependence Treatment in CMHCs”. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services.

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