Comparing Smartphone to In-person Training to Scale Up a Tobacco Control Program for Teachers in India

The study team will acquaint headmasters with the Tobacco Free Teachers-Tobacco Free Society (TFT-TFS) program and the smartphone training app. Headmasters will receive six monthly trainings on smartphones, including brief videos followed by quizzes with feedback, discussion forums to promote peer learning, demonstration of techniques, and the ability to review the content as needed. Headmasters will implement TFT-TFS at monthly school meetings with teachers and parents. TFT-TFS consists of four program components: (1) six group discussions with teachers, (2) cessation support and referrals to government resources, (3) posting six thematic tobacco control posters in the school, and (4) implementing a school tobacco policy. These four components incorporate the program's six themes: Teachers as Role Models; Health Effects of Tobacco; Motivation to Quit Tobacco Use; Skills to Quit Tobacco and to Help Others Quit; Dealing with Withdrawal; and Maintenance and Celebration.

Headmasters will receive three face-to-face trainings, each 60-75 minutes long and held at convenient locations. The study team will introduce headmasters to the TFT-TFS program and teach participants how to use paper-based materials. The trainings will encourage participants to discuss successes and come up with solutions to overcome challenges. Headmasters will implement TFT-TFS at monthly school meetings with teachers and parents. TFT-TFS consists of four program components: (1) 6 group discussions with teachers, (2) cessation support and referrals to government resources, (3) posting six thematic tobacco control posters in the school, and (4) implementing a school tobacco policy. These four components incorporate the program's six themes: Teachers as Role Models; Health Effects of Tobacco; Motivation to Quit Tobacco Use; Skills to Quit Tobacco and to Help Others Quit; Dealing with Withdrawal; and Maintenance and Celebration.