Smokefree
Tobacco smoking is a major public health problem in New Zealand. About 23 percent of the Waikato population smoke tobacco (2006 Census data).
Stopping smoking confers immediate health benefits on those who already
have smoking related diseases and future benefits on all smokers.
Helping people who smoke stop is one of six Ministry of Health national health targets - Better help for smokers to quit – 90% of inpatient who smoke offered interventions by July 2011 and 95% by July 2012.
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All health care workers, regardless of their location, specialty or seniority, have a duty of care to help people who want to stop smoking.
Routine use of nicotine replacement therapy in acute care for management of tobacco withdrawal is expected as good clinical practice.
Hospital environment is an ideal opportunity to offer advice and help.
Helping patients who smoke and preventing withdrawal symptoms
Smoking affects the health and recovery of people who smoke and might very well be the reason they are in hospital. Most patients who smoke will benefit more from their stay in hospital if we treat them adequately with nicotine replacement and offer a referral to community based cessation services.
People who smoke may consider continuing to be smokefree when they go home if they have had a good smokefree experience in hospital.
It’s as simple as ABC
All you have to do is:
- ask every patient about smoking status
- give brief advice about benefits of quitting and chart nicotine replacement
- offer referral to cessation support
Document you’ve done all three on the patient notes. Easy!
If patients want cessation support at home after discharge fax a referral to (07) 839 8770.
Smoking cessation services available to all people who smoke:
e-learning tools
Smokefree prisons encourage healthier living
Waikato District Health Board would like to congratulate the New Zealand Prison Service on its recently launched Smokefree prison policy. This policy will help many people move away from smoking and encourage them to adopt healthier living.
Tobacco use is the single biggest preventable cause of death in the world as well as in New Zealand where there are 5000 deaths every year, including deaths due to second-hand smoke.
Smokefree prisons will fundamentally improve the health of everyone on the inside. Two-thirds of New Zealand’s 8700 inmates and 30 percent of prison staff smoke. It is very difficult for a non-smoker to avoid second-hand smoke anywhere in a prison.
Corrections officers are among the only workers in New Zealand who until the policy launch have had to face risks associated with second-hand smoke in the workplace.
In the 12 month lead up to the Smokefree prison policy more than 2000 prisoners have received practical help, education and free nicotine replacement therapy with more than 200 prisoners using nicotine patches and lozenges.
Prisoners no longer smoking will put a considerable dent in New Zealand’s smoking rates.
Read more on Smokefree prisons
Deborah Peterson
Professional Advisor - Health Promotion
Population Health
