Content area
Full Text
Abstract
Aims. Smokescreen for the 1990's is a smoking cessation programme devised for use in primary care in Australia. It is based on the 'readiness to change' model where smokers are categorised as being 'ready', 'unsure', or 'not ready ' to quit smoking. Those in the 'ready' group are encouraged to set a quit date and offered nicotine replacement therapy. Those in the unsure group receive brief motivational intervention, and those 'not ready' are given simple health advice. The aims of the study were to evaluate the process and outcome of establishing this program in primary and secondary care in Christchurch.
Methods. Process evaluation involved all staff participating in the program. Patient outcomes including quit rates were assessed by interview six months after enrolment.
Results. Implementation was successful with 59 general practitioners, 49 practice nurses and 294 hospital staff receiving education in the use of the programme. Nine hundred and seven patients (smokers) were enrolled in the study, 347 from primary care and 560 from Christchurch Hospital. The point prevalence abstinence rate at 6 months was 10.4% for the primary care sample and 17% for the secondary care group, with an overall rate of 14.4%.
Conclusions. The programme was successfully implemented across primary and secondary care with an acceptable quit rate at 6 months.
NZ Med J 2000; 113: 117-9
Tobacco smoking is the main cause of preventable death and morbidity in New Zealand and in many western countries. Despite decades of health promotion and tobacco control legislation, the prevalence of smoking among adults and teenagers in New Zealand remains unacceptably high. In the 1996/7 Health Survey, the proportion of New Zealanders who smoked was 24.9%, with nearly half of all Maori adults reporting that they smoked.1 Cigarette smoke contains nicotine, a powerful addictive substance which can cause chemical addiction after just a short exposure. In addition, many continue to smoke for social and psychological reasons. Many people want to quit but for a variety of behavioural, psychological and pharmacological reasons find it difficult to achieve.
A wide variety of smoking cessation programmes have been developed and studied over recent years. Most programmes achieve point prevalence abstinence rates in the region of 10 - 30% at 12 months with higher rates within this...