A free smoking intervention clinic initiated by medical students

Objective: To describe a medical student-run smoking intervention clinic, r eport initial outcomes, and assess medical student competence in smoking in tervention counseling. Patients and Methods: Volunteer medical students of Mayo Medical School in Rochester, Minn, staffed a free smoking intervention clinic in conjunction with the Salvation Army Free Acute Care Clinic between December 1997 and Ja nuary 1999. Patients received a comprehensive intervention for smoking that comprised counseling, frequent follow-up contact, and pharmacologic therap y, including bupropion and nicotine replacement. Eighty-eight patients seen during the first 13 months of the clinic's operation and 30 medical studen t volunteer counselors were included in the study. Patients were contacted via telephone to assess 6-month self-reported smoking abstinence. Medical s tudent counselors completed a self-assessment questionnaire surveying compe tence before and after working in the clinic. Results: The 6-month self-reported smoking abstinence rate was 18% (95% con fidence interval, 11%-28%). Twelve of 14 medical students completing the su rvey reported improved competence in smoking intervention counseling. Conclusions: A comprehensive smoking intervention program provided by medic al students yielded smoking abstinence rates comparable to other treatment programs. Medical students believed they improved their smoking cessation c ounseling skills.