Referrals to stop smoking services
In the UK, the NHS stop smoking services were set up with the simple aim of helping people to stop smoking. These services implement different cessation methods which can be based around behaviour change techniques.Whilst these can be used in combination with nicotine replacement therapy, it is counselling services that are unique to the stop smoking services. Dependent on multiple factors, such as funding and service setup, behaviour change sessions can be via group therapy or individual support. It is shown that both methods in isolation have a positive outcome on cessation techniques.
We must note that not all individuals wish to utilise stop smoking services, meaning brief intervention from potential referral sources should always be undertaken in the first instance. When we consider it can take smokers up to 30 attempts to successfully quit, it is important for practitioners to reinforce simple cessation advice and offer stop smoking service referral at every opportunity.
In 1998, the UK government outlined new policies to combat tobacco addiction in the White Paper ‘Smoking Kills.’ By 2001, this guidance had resulted in the nationwide introduction of the precursor to the current stop smoking service; the ‘Smoking Cessation Services.’. These services were ultimately shown to be successful.
Gradually, this service has evolved into the ‘NHS Stop Smoking Service,’ we currently utilise to assist individuals in their cessation attempts. For example, it was found initially that cessation attempts in poorer areas were less likely to be successful than those in less socioeconomically deprived areas.
Increased advertising, alongside encouraging healthcare practitioners to refer these individuals to stop smoking services, means during the past 15 years there has been an increased amount of successful engagement with smokers from disadvantaged communities.
Referral Sources
General Practice
GPs may choose not to discuss smoking cessation as they believe it can damage the doctor patient relationship, however there is evidence that well managed cessation techniques can actually improve the doctor patient relationship.
GPs also have the ability to prescribe smoking cessation aids, which can enhance successful quit attempts two-fold.
We must view every GP appointment with a smoker where cessation is not discussed as a missed opportunity.
Pharmacy
Whilst pharmacists are trained in nicotine replacement therapy use and behavioural support to assist in smoking cessation, there are issues identified by pharmacists in delivery of this information.
For example, pharmacists believe they don’t always have enough time due to dispensing duties to give adequate advice. It is shown, however, that cessation advice given by pharmacists is beneficial in increasing successful cessation.
Dentistry
More threatening to patients than these is that tobacco exposes the oral cavity to carcinogens which initiate and promote oral cancers; these account for 2% of all cancer diagnoses in the UK.
Dental teams are in the enviable position of being able to offer advice to a largely ‘healthy’ section of the population who engage in tobacco use. Brief 2-minute advice from dental practitioners can lead to a 2% increase in successful smoking cessation.
Optometry
It is documented that the use of optometrists as a healthcare professional to provide brief smoking cessation is underutilised. Despite this, it appears there is an appetite by optometrists to be involved in provision of cessation advice.
We can conclude optometrists provide a further opportunity to deliver brief advice to those who utilise tobacco and offer referral to stop smoking services when appropriate.
Maternity Services
Smoking can also cause sudden infant death syndrome and increases the risk of the baby developing respiratory problems. 12% of pregnant women smoke throughout their pregnancy term, with these infants more likely to become smokers themselves.
As maternity services have the largest access to pregnant smokers, they can give brief cessation to these individuals alongside referral to NHS stop smoking services.
Interestingly, NRT is found to be of limited use amongst pregnant women beyond their first trimester.
Behaviour management strategies are shown to be effective for pregnant women, but not their partners. This is problematic, as second hand smoke can have similar deleterious health outcomes for the mother and her child.
Secondary Care
In head and neck cancer patients, a cessation period of just three weeks has shown to be beneficial. Therefore, a pre-operative assessment within a secondary care environment gives a perfect opportunity to recommend cessation and advise of potential post-operative risks to smokers.
Hospital admission can be useful in promoting smoking cessation; it imposes temporary smoking abstinence and the environment assists in making individuals aware of the health implications of smoking.
If initial cessation ideology is imparted during the inpatient stay, followed by one month of continued support (for example from stop smoking services) individuals are more likely to successfully stop smoking.