Empowering Smoking Cessation Services in Specific Populations

1. Empowering the Promotion & Delivery of Effective Smoking Cessation Services in Specific Populations By Elaine Robinson S.C. CNS LGH Pauline Kent S.C. SCCo SGH

2. 1st Winter School in Smoking CessationNovember 2004 Project Team: NWRSCS, Ireland Elaine Robinson CNS Smoking Cessation LGH Pauline Kent Smoking Cessation Co-ordinator SGH, Prannie Rhatigan, GP, Cardiovascular Strategy Co-ordinator Susan Mc Ginley, Smoking Cessation Provider, Sligo Fiona Boyle, Smoking Cessation Provider, Donegal Kate Mc Sherry, Clerical Officer

3. Background: • The high economic, social, & health costs of the effects of tobacco smoking, on both the individual who smokes & on our society • Introduction of the Smoke Free Workplace legislation (2002 & 2004 Public Health Tobacco Acts) • Smoking Cessation Interventions are highly cost effective • Effective Smoking Cessation interventions need to be integrated into all levels of health care settings • Intensive Tobacco dependance treatments = more effective • Acute Hospital Services up and running > 3 years • Community Service < 1 year old • In order to promote & deliver an effective evidenced-based service -further training needs were identified by the team to engage appropriately with specific populations

4. Project Aim: To Empower the Promotion & Delivery of Effective Smoking Cessation Services in Specific Populations

5. Objectives • To change the public’s perception on smoking. • To inform all health & allied health professionals of the nature and extent of smoking in these specific populations • To further develop the skills & knowledge around smoking cessation (tobacco) of those persons involved in the delivery of the NWR Smoking Cessation Service • To further develop the skills & knowledge around smoking cessation in the areas of personal behaviour change, tobacco dependance and relapse prevention

6. Target Groups for Project: • Smoking Cessation Service Providers • Health Promotion Department • Public Health Department • Primary Care • Acute Hospital Staff • Mental Health Staff • Addiction Services • Children Services • Learning Disability Services • Pharmacists • Teachers • Clergy • Social Services

7. Methodology • Provision of awareness sessions to engender support and increase sensitisation of the population to the service and policy needs around tobacco control • Invitation of key staff and stakeholders to attend sessions • Expert-led Workshops to increase knowledge and skills in the specific populations for persons involved in the delivery of smoking cessation services • Evaluation of each session & workshop and completion of Project Report

8. Expert Speakers: Youth- Danny McGoldrick, Head of Research for the Tobacco Free Kids Campaign, US Pregnant Women & Relapse Prevention- Terry Lawerence, Consultant Specialist in Smoking Cessation training (Pregnancy), England Mental Health- Professor Peter Hajek, Head of Psychology, Director of Tobacco Research Centre Barts & The London, England Tobacco Dependance- Professor David Balfour, Scientist in Neurobiology underlying |Tobacco & Nicotine Dependance, Scotland Personal Behaviour Change- Joe Armstrong, Journalist and Author of ‘The Write Way to Stop Smoking’, Ireland

9. The Project: Project Development & Co-ordination: • The NWRSCS • Each project member was allocated specific tasks Project Duration: • Commenced in April 2004, delivered in November 2004. • Evaluation and Report compiled between December 2004 & January 2005 Project Delivery: • Programme was delivered over a period of seven days, by five leading experts in the areas of tobacco control identified by the project team. Consisted of 2hr Sessions (10) & 7hr Workshops (3) Project Funding: • Cardiovascular Strategy & Health Promotion

10. Evaluation: • Evaluation forms were developed to collate data on each individual session & workshop. • To determine whether our aims & objectives of the project were met • Forms were circulated at beginning and collected at end of each session & workshop • Our Clerical support processed all data into tables/pie charts

11. Results • > 240 attended • All target groups were represented • Met the participant’s expectation by 95 to 100% Participants views on Sessions/Workshops • Programme content -scoring excellent -75 to 80% • A positive increase in knowledge -100% • Relevance to daily work - ‘highly’ -50 to 70 % • Confidence levels was increased -100% • Skills Practice scored excellence -50 to 60 % Project gained National, Regional and Local Media Coverage

12. General comments:(included specific requests) More information on smoking cessation More support & training around smoking cessation interventions Smoking Cessations Interventions effective with Long Stay Mental Health Patients Use of Motivational language in practice Effects of Passive Smoking Setting up similar youth projects as implemented in US

13. This Project has Informed & Enabled other Projects • Youth & Tobacco Group Formed • Mental Health Setting Smoke Free Project • Smoke Free Maternity Hospital Initiative • Promotion of Community Smoking Cessation • Increased interest in and the need for Smoke Free environments Report available in HSE NWA D.HP & at An bord Altranais Library All Workshops were granted Category 1 Approval

14. The Future Date for Diary 2nd Winter School in Smoking Cessation HSE NWA, Ireland November 8th & 9th 2005 Women & Youth Cessation All are welcome Information will soon be available- www, nwhb.ieor email tracey.flood@mailb.hse.ie