Introduction:
NHS England has committed. Tobacco-dependence advisors have been hired as specialists. Ensuring high-quality evidence-based training is available to support this new workforce is important for be key to increasing the quality and efficacy of support provided to patients. We sought to document the learning needs of tobacco-dependence advisors working in inpatient hospital settings. We also sought to assess changes in confidence in the delivery of behavior change techniques (BCTs) before and after participation in the new national inpatient tobacco dependence advisor training curriculum. Learner satisfaction with the training was also assessed.

Material and Methods:
A survey of tobacco-dependence advisors (n=320) was conducted and used to support course design. The training curricula were developed by the National Centre for Smoking Cessation and Training (NCSCT) developed the training curricula, and six courses were delivered between December 2023 and September 2024. Pre-post course assessment examined changes in participant confidence in the delivery of 20 BCTs.

Results:
We surveyed more than 250 tobacco-dependence advisors to assess learning needs. Significant improvements in learner confidence in the twenty evidence-based BCTs were documented following the training (p<0.05). The most significant changes in confidence in BCTs were documented for newer advisors. Training course evaluation showed that learners have highly evaluated the training, with 98% of learners reporting that the course improved their knowledge and skills.

Conclusions:
The new NHS England national training curricula for inpatient acute and mental health settings have been well evaluated and have increased learners' confidence in delivering evidence-based BCTs. Similar curricula may be recommended for other inpatient settings in Europe.