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CTCCC 10.0 – Comprehensive Tobacco Cessation Certificate Course | NIMHANS
CTCCC 10.0  ·  NIMHANS ECHO

Comprehensive Tobacco Cessation
Certificate Course

Centre for Addiction Medicine, NIMHANS · Bangalore

June – September 2026  ·  Every Friday 2:30 – 4:00 PM IST

Duration
30 Hours
18 hrs live · 12 hrs self-paced
Format
12 Weeks
Blended Learning
iECHO + LMS
Audience
Counsellors
Tele-MANAS, NTQL &
Healthcare Providers
Enrolment
35 Seats
NIMHANS Accredited
Limited intake
Background

Why Tobacco Cessation Training?

Tobacco use, a human-created epidemic, kills one-third to one-half of all people who use it globally. Nicotine — the principal constituent of tobacco — is highly addictive. A recent Indian study found that 83% of tobacco users want to quit, but 51% are unsuccessful due to a critical lack of trained health professionals.

Tobacco addiction is a chronic brain disease. Of those who experiment, 30 out of 100 develop neurobiological changes leading to craving, tolerance, and use despite harm. Evidence-based interventions are essential — yet most healthcare providers are under-trained.

In a study in Bihar, over two-thirds of medical doctors felt the need for more training on tobacco cessation. This certificate course is designed to increase professional skills in tobacco cessation among counsellors, dentists, physicians, and specialists.

Quick Summary

  • Half of tobacco users want to quit (GATS survey)
  • Lack of experts to provide evidence-based cessation
  • Urgent need to upscale skills of HCPs
  • NIMHANS ECHO proven to improve self-perceived clinical skills
  • CTCCC ECHO is the structured response to this gap
What You'll Learn

Course Objectives

On completion, learners will be able to:

🔍

Identification & Screening

Screen for tobacco abuse and Tobacco Use Disorder, identifying influencing factors in patients.

📊

Severity Assessment

Assess the severity of tobacco addiction using objective, validated scales.

💬

Evidence-Based Counselling

Practice brief & extended interventions, communication skills, and relapse prevention strategies.

💊

NRT Prescription

Prescribe over-the-counter Nicotine Replacement Therapy and gain knowledge of other pharmacotherapy.

🤝

Referral Decision-Making

Determine what can be managed locally and what requires referral to a specialist centre.

Our Model

NIMHANS ECHO: Hub & Spoke

NIMHANS ECHO is an innovative capacity-building programme that uses a Hub-and-Spoke knowledge-sharing network. Expert teams from the Centre for Addiction Medicine, NIMHANS (the Hub) provide training and tele-mentoring to healthcare professionals across India (the Spokes).

Each ECHO session features anonymised patient case presentations by participants, expert discussion with the NIMHANS hub team, and a brief didactic on an addiction topic — all delivered via smartphone app and multipoint videoconferencing.

Through routine coaching and mentoring, healthcare providers progressively acquire the knowledge and skills to independently manage patients with tobacco use disorder within their own communities.

90-Minute Session Structure

5 min
Introduction, Announcements & Clarifications
15 min
Didactic-Based Interactive Quiz Content available in advance on iecho.org
15 min
Didactic / Roleplay Led by subject experts
50 min
Case Presentations by Participants Two cases per session
5 min
Anonymous Feedback
Curriculum

Learning Modules

Three progressive modules over 12 weeks, anchored in real-life case-based learning.

I

Tobacco Addiction – Overview

Weeks 1–3  ·  19 Jun – 10 Jul 2026

Objectives

  • Recognize and describe the epidemiology and etiopathogenesis of Tobacco Use Disorder
  • Define and explain public health challenges, tobacco control policies, and legislation
  • Understand the addictive properties of nicotine and neurobiological changes
Topics covered: Course overview & digital tools · Tobacco public health challenges · Addictive properties of tobacco · Policy and legislation (COTPA, FCTC, MPOWER)
II

Tobacco Addiction – Assessment & Management

Weeks 4–9  ·  17 Jul – 21 Aug 2026

Objectives

  • Evaluate the patient's tobacco addiction comprehensively
  • Formulate a management plan for Tobacco Use Disorder
  • Apply the 5A's framework (Ask, Assess, Advise, Assist, Arrange)
  • Use NRT effectively and understand other pharmacotherapy options
  • Introduce Motivational Interviewing (OARS skills) in clinical practice
Topics covered: Communication skills · History taking & severity assessment · 5As and 5Rs · Brief & extended interventions · Nicotine Replacement Therapy · ASSIST · Motivational Interviewing I & II
III

Enhancing Motivation & Preventing Relapse

Weeks 10–12  ·  28 Aug – 11 Sep 2026

Objectives

  • Define and explain the process of motivation enhancement and relapse prevention
  • Integrate motivational enhancement and relapse prevention techniques into management plans
  • Understand special populations: adolescents, elderly, women, and pregnant women
  • Apply confidentiality & privacy principles in telephonic counselling
  • Use referral pathways and linkages to treatment services
Topics covered: Relapse counselling · Special populations · Confidentiality in telephonic counselling · Referral pathways · Coping skills & trigger management
Schedule

Week-by-Week tele ECHO Programme

Every Friday, 2:30 – 4:00 PM IST on iECHO / Zoom

Week Date Didactic / Interactive Quiz Topic Case Facilitator
📘 Module I — Tobacco Addiction: Overview
Wk 1 19 Jun 2026 Inauguration · Overview of course & digital tools Dr Prabhat · Ms Mahasweta · Ms Tejdeepika
Wk 2 3 Jul 2026 Tobacco: Public Health Challenges
Roleplay: "Turning Policy Friction into Quitting Fuel" | Case presenter: Dr. Aayushi Aggarwal		 Dr Shivam Gakkhar & Ms Mahasweta
Wk 3 10 Jul 2026 Addictive Properties of Tobacco
Drill: Voice-Based Withdrawal Assessment | Case presenters: Dr. Ashim Choudhury Ms. Sakshi Tondwalkar 		Dr Abhishek Manoharan & Ms Tejdeepika
📋 Assignment I 18 Jul 2026 (Saturday) — Objective type · Module 1 + case discussions Platform: elearn.vknnimhans.in
📗 Module II — Tobacco Addiction: Assessment & Management
Wk 4 17 Jul 2026 Communication Skills – Initiating a Conversation (Part 1)
Roleplay: OARS skills | Case Presenter: Mr. Rohith Fernando M Mr. Amit Kharat 		Dr Vaibhav & Ms Mahasweta
Wk 5 24 Jul 2026 Initiating a Conversation (Part 2) · Severity Assessment
Roleplay: History taking during telephonic counselling || Case Presenter: Dr. Pallavi Mishra Mr. Prithviraj Kadam 		Dr Babli Kumari & Ms Tejdeepika
Wk 6 31 Jul 2026 Brief Intervention – 5As and 5Rs
Roleplay: 5A activity for 5R Case Presenter: Dr. Nabanita Mandal Mr. Jigil K 		Dr Sreya Mukherjee & Ms Mahasweta
Wk 7 7 Aug 2026 Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)
Roleplay: Helping clients use NRT effectively | Case Presenter: Dr. Rosali Bhoi Ms. Hamna Azeez 		Dr Babli Kumari & Ms Tejdeepika
Wk 8 14 Aug 2026 ASSIST · Motivational Interviewing I
Roleplay: Addressing ambivalence & enhancing motivation | Case Presenter: Dr. Majoe Mathew Nellary Mr. Tarun D 		Dr V M Rajamani & Ms Mahasweta
Wk 9 21 Aug 2026 ASSIST · Motivational Interviewing II
Roleplay: Coping skills & trigger management | Case Presenter: Ms. Gauri Akre Ms. Sonam Salave 		Dr Duvvri Pranavi & Ms Tejdeepika
📋 Assignment II 22 Aug 2026 (Saturday) — 25% Module 1 · 75% Module 2 + case discussions Platform: elearn.vknnimhans.in
📙 Module III — Enhancing Motivation & Preventing Relapse
Wk 10 28 Aug 2026 Relapse Counselling
Special Populations: adolescents, elderly, women, pregnant women | Case Presenter: Ms. Yashasvi Latta Ms. Komal Raut 		Dr Astut Kurariya & Ms Mahasweta
Wk 11 4 Sep 2026 Relapse Counselling II
Confidentiality in telephonic counselling · Referral pathways | Case Presenter: Dr Anitha Venkatesan Mr. Rohan Dhivare 		Dr Vaibhav & Ms Tejdeepika
Wk 12 11 Sep 2026 Open Session / Wrap-up | Case Presenters: Ms. Shweta Pagare Mrs. Suvarna Kolekar Mr. Arjun Jangale Ms. Alisha Khilare Ms Tejdeepika & Ms Mahasweta
📋 Assignment III 12 Sep 2026 — Subjective / Case-based Platform: elearn.vknnimhans.in
✅ Post-test 21 Sep 2026
← Swipe to see all columns →
Important Dates

Course Timeline

All timelines must be followed strictly to qualify for accreditation.

Event Start / Attempt 1 Close / Attempt 1
Pre-test12 Jun 202616 Jun 2026
Course Commencement19 Jun 202611 Sep 2026
Warm-up Quiz14 Jul 202616 Jul 2026
Assignment I (Objective)18 Jul 202618 Jul 2026
Assignment II (Objective)22 Aug 202622 Aug 2026
Assignment III (Subjective)12 Sep 202612 Sep 2026
Post-test21 Sep 202627 Sep 2026
Accreditation Verification & Certificates30 Sep 2026Within 1 month of completion
Requirements

Accreditation Criteria

As per NIMHANS Digital Academy Board of Studies. All criteria must be fulfilled.

📋 To Receive the Certificate

  • Attendance: ≥75% of sessions (9/12) with >60 min video presence per session, measured by software
  • Case Presentation: One case summary presented during a live tele-ECHO session
  • Three Assignments: Taken on elearn.vknnimhans.in / Jotform platform (Saturdays as scheduled)
  • Monthly Reports: Reports of patients seen — a sample form will be provided
  • Pre-test & Post-test: Both must be completed (no scoring involved)

📝 About the Assignments

  • Cover all previous sessions; case-based, MCQ, match-the-following, short essays
  • Negative marking applies
  • Two attempts allowed per assignment; second attempt requires first to be submitted
  • Each attempt carries a different set of questions
  • Approximately 1/3 of questions from previous modules
  • Must be taken on laptop / PC / tablet with webcam enabled
Note: Certificate is a by-product of this programme. The core philosophy is democratizing knowledge through case-based learning. There is NO participation certificate.
Post-Accreditation

Core Competencies

✅ What Accredited Champions Can Do

  • Assess for tobacco use among patients, clients, and persons
  • Estimate severity using structured, validated scales
  • Provide brief intervention and extended interventions based on motivation enhancement
  • Plan and implement relapse prevention strategies
  • All professionals: Provide Nicotine Gum 2 mg as an over-the-counter agent
  • Physicians & Dentists: Prescribe other NRT and non-NRT pharmacotherapy

⚠️ When to Refer to Higher Centres

  • Patients with comorbid moderate-to-severe psychiatric disorders
  • Patients with associated severe substance use disorders
Accredited participants are not qualified to call themselves Addiction Specialists or Psychiatrists. These competencies are specific to tobacco cessation in non-complex cases.
Technology

Digital Platforms

🎥
Live tele-ECHO
Zoom Telehealth + iECHO.org
📋
Case Record Form
Jotform (HIPAA compliant)
📚
E-learning & Forum
iecho.org
📝
Assignments
elearn.vknnimhans.in
📊
Pre / Post-test
Jotform
💡
Live Engagement
Slido.com
People

CAM Hub Team

MC
Ms. Mahasweta Chakraborty
M.Sc. Clinical Psychology
Course Coordinator
TM
Ms. Tejdeepika
M.Sc. Clinical Psychology
Chief Facilitator
MJ
Mr. Manjunatha
ECHO India
Communication Specialist
SC
Ms. Sanchitha
CAM NIMHANS
Support
MG
Mr. Manoj Gowda
Technology head
Centre for Addiction Medicine
GN
Dr. Narasimha G V L
Faculty, Centre for
Addiction Medicine
PC
Prof. Prabhat Chand
Professor of Psychiatry
Centre for Addiction Medicine
Coordinator: Ms. Mahasweta Chakraborty, Manager NTQL  ·  ma**************@*****ns.net
Community

Impact

24 Healthcare professionals enrolled
23 Clinical cases discussed
2,645 Lives touched during the previous three months*
20 Average participants per live ECHO session
+89 Average Net Promoter Score
*Lives touched were self-reported by participating healthcare professionals. NPS was collected across Sessions 2–11.NPS means: On a scale of 0–10, how likely are you to recommend this programme to a colleague?
Hear what CTCCC ECHO participants have to say about their learning experience.

Board not loading? View the feedback board directly on Padlet →

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How do I prepare for the next session's Slido quiz?
Check the didactic and self-directed learning topic in the curriculum according to the session date. Go through the materials available on iecho.org for the respective topics.
Q. Will session recordings be provided?
Session recordings of the case discussion are not provided due to their large file size. However, the discussion focuses on contents already available on iecho.org. Case recommendations will be shared once the discussion begins and can be accessed anytime.
Q. What is a Case Presentation? Will the hub team assign a topic to me?
On 6th June 2026, we will discuss case presentation in detail with a live demonstration on filling the case record form. You select your preferred date while filling the form. After submission, your name appears in the curriculum for that date, and your case file is shared with you one week before your presentation.
Q. Where can I access reading materials?
All materials are available on iecho.org — didactic presentations, self-learning materials, and extra reference resources under each session. Participants also get lifelong access to content in the app. For clarifications, email ma**************@*****ns.net.

Recognition & Certification

This is a Continued Professional Development Certificate programme approved by the NIMHANS Digital Academy Board of Studies. It is not recognized by RCI / NMC / DCI or similar bodies.

Funded by: NIMHANS · Centre for Addiction Medicine · National Tobacco Quitline NIMHANS · ECHO India

Group photo on 11th Sept. on completion of CTCCC 10.0 ECHO

Planning to join CTCCC 11.0 ECHO weekly case discussion and course

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