Batches 1, 2 & 3
CTCCC
Comprehensive Tobacco Cessation Certificate Course
Batches 1, 2 & 3 Combined Impact
Centre for Addiction Medicine | NIMHANS Digital Academy VKN ECHO
Introduction: A Human-Created Epidemic
⚠️ Tobacco use kills one-third to one-half of all people who use it across the world.
Nicotine, the principal constituent of tobacco, is highly addictive. A recent study in India revealed:
- 83% of tobacco users wanted to quit
- 51% were unsuccessful in their quit attempts
- Primary barrier: Lack of trained health professionals to provide quitting support
The Training Gap
In a study in Bihar, over two-thirds of medical doctors felt the need for increasing their training on tobacco cessation. Health providers may also lack motivation to undertake smoking cessation activities due to:
- Inadequate training in healthcare facilities
- Lack of resources and government funding
- Insufficient knowledge of evidence-based interventions
The Solution: CTCCC
This certificate course is designed to increase professional skills in tobacco cessation among counselors, dentists, physicians, and specialists.
Combined Impact of CTCCC Batches 1-3
Program Success Metrics Across All Batches
Through CTCCC Batches 1-3, 85 accredited healthcare professionals (counselors, dentists, physicians, and specialists) have provided evidence-based tobacco cessation support to over 26,400 tobacco users across India, significantly bridging the treatment gap.
Learning Objectives
At the end of the course, learners should be able to:
- Identify and screen for tobacco abuse and Tobacco Use Disorder, including factors influencing it
- Assess the severity of tobacco addiction using objective scales
- Practice evidence-based counseling, communication skills, motivational interviewing, and psychosocial interventions for preventing relapse
- Prescribe over-the-counter Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)
- Make decisions about what can be managed independently and what needs to be referred
Program Overview
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Program Title | Comprehensive Tobacco Cessation Certificate Course (CTCCC) |
| Duration | 3 months (30 hours total) • 18 hours: Synchronous learning (Live tele-ECHO) • 12 hours: Asynchronous learning (self-paced) |
| Schedule | 12 Live Sessions - Every Tuesday, 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM |
| Target Audience | Healthcare Providers: Counselors, Dentists, Nurses, Physicians directly involved with tobacco users |
| Eligibility | • Bachelor degree or above • Writing, speaking, and understanding English • Interest in tobacco cessation |
| Capacity | 50 HCPs per batch |
| Program Fees | ₹1,000 INR Covers secured software, HIPAA compliant forms, and LMS server costs Lifelong access to content |
| Format | Blended Online Training Real case-based learning approach |
Enrollment Process
- Your current practice regarding tobacco cessation
- How upskilling in tobacco cessation will be helpful in your practice
Digital Learning Platforms
| Component | Platform | Security/Compliance |
|---|---|---|
| Live tele-ECHO Sessions (90 min weekly) | Zoom Telehealth ECHO & iECHO.org | HIPAA compliant |
| Case Record Proforma | Jotform | HIPAA compliant |
| E-learning, Assignments, Chat, Forum | elearn.vknnimhans.in + Android app | Secure LMS |
| Pre-test and Post-test | Jotform | HIPAA compliant |
| Interaction & Engagement | Slido.com, Quizz.com | Interactive polling |
| Feedback | iecho.org | Secure feedback system |
Accreditation Criteria
To receive the Certificate of Completion, participants must fulfill ALL of the following criteria:
- Attendance: At least 75% of sessions (9/12 weekly VKN tele-ECHO sessions) with >60 minutes video screen presence (measured by software and Zoom recording)
- Case Presentation: One case summary presentation during live tele-ECHO session
- Assignments: Score >75% in all three camera-enabled (proctored) assignments. Second attempt allowed if first attempt is completed
- Monthly Reports: Monthly reports of patients seen during the course
- Pre-test and Post-test: Completion of both assessments
Important Assignment Notes:
- Assignments must be taken only on laptop/PC with webcam or tablet with webcam (proctored)
- Case-based, multiple choice, match the following, short essays
- Questions carry negative marks
- Two attempts allowed; first attempt mandatory for second attempt eligibility
- Each assignment has different questions across attempts
- 1/3rd of questions will be from previous modules
Live Tele-ECHO Session Structure (90 minutes)
| Activity | Duration |
|---|---|
| Introduction, Announcements, Updates, Clarification | 10 minutes |
| Recap Quiz on Self-Learning | 15 minutes |
| Brief Didactic | 15 minutes |
| Q&A on Didactic | 10 minutes |
| Case Presentation | 35 minutes |
| Anonymous Feedback | 5 minutes |
Three-Module Curriculum
Objectives: Recognize and describe the epidemiology and etiopathogenesis of tobacco addiction; Define and explain public health challenges and tobacco control policies and legislations
Team presentation and discussion
Didactic: Dr. Prabhat Kumar Chand | Reading: Tobacco use practice in India
Didactic: Dr. Anoop | Reading: Tobacco and health
Didactic: Dr. Prakriti | Reading: Addiction - a chronic brain disorder
Assignment 1 (Dec 10-12)
Objectives: Evaluate the patient's tobacco addiction; Formulate a management plan for tobacco use disorders
Didactic: Dr. Darshan | Topic: Ask/Assess - Identification and Assessment with LIVE demonstration
Didactic: Dr. Nandini | Reading: Fagerstrom scale
Didactic: Dr. Gauravvk | Demo: Chew and park method - AV aid
Didactic: Dr. Mohita | Reading: Non-NRTs
Assignment 2 (Jan 7-9)
Objectives: Define and explain the process of motivation enhancement and relapse prevention; Integrate these techniques into management plans
Didactic: Ms. Aswathi
Didactic: Ms. Aswathi | Reading: Starting a TCC
Didactic: Ms. Tejdeepika
Didactic: Ms. Tejdeepika | Reading: Quitline and m-Cessation
Assignment 3 (Feb 4-6)
Core Competencies After Accreditation
What Graduates CAN Do:
- Assess for tobacco use among patients/clients/persons
- Estimate severity of tobacco use using structured scales
- Provide brief intervention and extended interventions based on motivation enhancement skills
- Plan and implement relapse prevention strategies
- Provide Nicotine gum 2mg as over-the-counter agent (for everyone)
- For Physicians and Dentists: Provide other NRT and Non-NRT medications
What Graduates CANNOT Do (Will Refer):
- Patients with comorbid moderate to severe psychiatric disorders
- Patients with associated severe substance use disorders
Hub Team
Core Hub Team:
- Dr. Prabhat Chand - Professor of Psychiatry, Centre for Addiction Medicine (Course Coordinator)
- Ms. TejDeepika R - M.Sc. (Clinical Psychology) (Course Coordinator)
- Ms. Nidhi Parate - M.Sc. (Clinical Psychology)
- Mr. Manjunatha - ECHO India
- Ms. Sanchitha - CAM
Support and Guidance Team:
- Dr. Pratima Murthy - Senior Professor of Psychiatry and Director NIMHANS
- Dr. Vivek Benegal - Professor and Officer in Charge, Centre for Addiction Medicine
- Dr. Arun K - Additional Professor of Psychiatry, CAM
- Dr. Jayant M - Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, CAM
- Dr. Lekhansh Shukla - Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, CAM
- Mr. Lakshmanan S - Senior Occupational Therapist, CAM
- Senior Residents of CAM and NTQL
Funding Support
This program is supported by:
- NIMHANS, Centre for Addiction Medicine
- Bajaj Electricals Foundation
- ECHO India
Conflict of Interest Declaration:
The funding agency has no role in designing the course content, its delivery, nor its scientific merit. There is no financial conflict between the funders and course coordinator.
Reference Materials
- World Health Organization. "Helping people quit tobacco: a manual for doctors and dentists." (2010)
- Varghese, Cherian, et al. "Initiating tobacco cessation services in India: challenges and opportunities." WHO South-East Asia Journal of Public Health 1, no. 2 (2012): 159-168
- Video Portal: youtube.com/c/vknnimhans
Contact Information
Centre for Addiction Medicine
Tobacco Cessation Center
NIMHANS Digital Academy VKN ECHO
National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences
Email: vk*@********ns.in
Curriculum: vkn.nimhansdigitalacademy.in/CTCCC
Webpage: vknnimhans.in/ctccc
Bridging the Tobacco Cessation Treatment Gap
Empowering healthcare professionals across India with evidence-based skills to support tobacco users in their quit journey.
Over 26,400 tobacco users have received evidence-based cessation support from our 85 accredited graduates across three batches.