|
Smoking cessation:
guidelines for professionals in helping clients to stop smoking
In 2001 almost 3,000 people in Northern Ireland will die from
smoking related disease. The average loss of life expectancy
is around 16 years. Around 29% of adults in Northern Ireland
currently smoke, and at least 70% of them want to stop. The
challenge for the primary care sector is to provide effective
support to patients in order to help them stop smoking.
This seminar
looked at the issue of smoking cessation and its implications
for professionals involved in helping people stop. It introduced
a range of innovative techniques that have been successfully
used to support smokers who want to give up.
The afternoon
session of this seminar was facilitated by Rob Phipps of the
Health Promotion Agency, Cathy Pielou of the Eastern Health
and Social Services Board, Fiona McConnell of the Northern
Health and Social Services Board, Louise Hynes of the Southern
Health and Social Services Board, Mark McBride of the Western
Health and Social Services Board and Gerry McElwee of the
Ulster Cancer Foundation.
Dr Chris Steele
facilitated the evening session. Dr Steele has pioneered a
series of successful techniques to help clients stop smoking.
He is the resident doctor on the popular 'This Morning' television
show where he regularly appears to provide medical advice
to viewers.
Forty nine delegates
attended the seminar from a wide variety of backgrounds including
nursing, medicine, education, oral health, health promotion,
specialist cardiac medicine and smoking cessation coordination.
Some of the key findings from the post-course evaluation highlighted
the usefulness of finding out about the variety of projects
and work being carried out in Northern Ireland and a better
understanding of how programmes are managed and analysed.
When asked what
impact this course would have on their work practice, participants'
comments included:
- "Finding out what has been happening in other boards will encourage me
to possibly use some of their ideas in my area of smoking
cessation".
- "Very good information gained about what is happening
around the province regarding smoking cessation".
- "Given me contacts to use for further information regarding
smoking cessation issues".
|
