Learning Objectives: explain how to assess need for and implement a process for increasing access to smoking cessation support for specific populations
Abstract: Current literature provides evidence that cessation resources and supports can improve the chances of success for those who try to quit. However, resources are typically underutilized and have yet to translate into noticeable reductions in the population prevalence of tobacco use. Increasing the numbers of smokers who use cessation resources depends on our ability to motivate smokers to quit and ensure that those who wish to quit have knowledge of and access to those resources.
Toronto Public Health has undertaken a project to increase access to cessation suppports in our community. This involves the provision of training, consultation and resources to community groups and organizations to enable them to offer cessation resources and supports to their clients. Staff of community health centres and agencies that provide services to pregnant teens/young parents and immigrants/new Canadians are engaged in this project.
Public Health staff work with staff of participating agencies to assess smoking rates among clients, to determine learning/organizational needs for supporting cessation, to assist in the selection of appropriate self-help and minimal contact intervention resources, and to train staff in the use of minimal contact intervention strategies.
The success of the project will be measured by determining whether clients' access to smoking cessation resources has increased, whether utilzation rates of other existing resources has increased and the relationship of access to quit rates among agency clients.
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