Can A Quit Coach Help You?

Earlier this year, Dr. Jim Morris, known as the 'Quit Coach' presented an in-service titled: 'Tobacco Dependence Treatment' to the physicians of the Algoma District Medical Group (ADMG) and health care providers at the Group Health Centre (GHC).

Dr. Morris, who is with the Nicotine Dependence Centre at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Science Centre, outlined how health professionals play an important role in tobacco prevention and cessation, and how to incorporate a tobacco cessation program into a practice setting.

Statistics for smokers are grim. Each year in Canada, 45,000 or one in 5 deaths are attributable to cigarette smoking. In Ontario, 16,000 people die from smoking every year. Although the adult prevalence of tobacco use is decreasing (following an increase in the early 1990s), 22 per cent of the Canadian population are smokers. Most alarming is that teen tobacco use in Canada is still high in some areas!

Twenty per cent of all smokers, and 30 per cent of heavy smokers will develop lung cancer which is the most common cancer and the leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Eighty to 90 per cent of lung cancers can be attributed to smoking. One in 5 deaths from ischemic heart disease in Canada is caused by tobacco and chronic lung disease is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide.

Dr. Morris said, "Most tobacco users want to quit. They know that tobacco is bad for their health and brief interventions by their health care provider is effective."

Nicotine is powerfully addictive and that tobacco users often do not know how to quite. Unassisted, long term cessation rates are low at about 10 per cent.

"Health care providers have to know if their patient is a smoker. In a clear, strong and personalized manner, every patient who is a smoker must be urged to quit," Dr. Morris noted, "Patients report that physician advice is the single most important motivating factor."

In fact, improved long-term cessation rates of about 15 to 30 per cent are possible with help."

A new innovative and comprehensive Smoking Tobacco Cessation Program (STOP) has been introduced to assist Group Health Centre patients who want to quit smoking. STOP encourages a healthy, smoke-free lifestyle. Cigarette smokers, those who chew tobacco or cigar smokers (all types of tobacco consumption!) can enrol in STOP.

STOP initiatives target enrolled GHC patients, including teenagers and pregnant women.

There are three levels to STOP. Reading smoking cessation material and developing a positive attitude towards quitting is the first level. (Smoking Cessation literature is made available throughout GHC, from the local chapters of the: Lung Association, Heart and Stroke Foundation and Canadian Cancer Society.) Patients entering the second level are required to book an appointment with their health care provider to specifically discuss quitting smoking. Level 3 involves 'intensive intervention' with selected patients enrolled in STOP.

Patients enrolled in STOP are assisted in developing their own personalized 'Quit Plan' that includes an actual quit date; a list of support persons; medication information; self-help material and have follow-up appointments scheduled for on-going support. The program also features problem-solving exercises to give participants the best chance of following through with his or her 'quit' date. The more prepared they are for the quit date, increase their chances of being successful.

Laura Fryia, RN is a specially trained Smoking Cessation Nurse and the STOP Coordinator. Her work has also been described similar to a 'quit coach.' In addition to providing support, clinical expertise, and leadership and overseeing the education, she also oversees the intervention and counselling proponents of the program. "

Whatever the motivation is for quitting, I try and assist," Ms. Fryia says. Ms. Fryia said,"Most people find quitting smoking a difficult thing to do. I tell them honestly, it will be hard work, but worth it in the end. Health benefits from quitting smoking start 20 minutes after the last cigarette and continue for life. The more personal their reason for quitting smoking is I've found they are extremely motivated to succeed. I congratulate the patient for making the decision to quit and I am here to help them be successful.

Patients are very appreciative of what the STOP Program has to offer. It's important for them to remember to take one day at a time and be kind to yourself."

Dr. Dan Fritz and Dr. Sandra Stevenson, physicians with ADMG at the GHC are the STOP Medical Directors.

To enrol in STOP, GHC patients have to make an appointment with their family physician or nurse practitioner by calling Appointment Services at 759-4444, weekdays.

For more information about GHC's STOP, contact Ms. Fryia at 759-5539 or visit: www.ghc.on.ca/stop.html.