Learning Objectives: Describe the steps to ensuring a coordinated approach to cessation.
Abstract:
Problem/Objective:In collaboration with various cessation stakeholders, Health Canada has taken the lead on an initiative to create a coordinated approach to cessation within Canada. The goals are to use available resources to reduce the health burden associated with tobacco use in Canada and significant disparities among sub-populations of tobacco users.
Methods:Commitment to this endeavour by stakeholders has led to substantive efforts to establish cessation priorities in Canada. A policy options paper was developed as a working tool to stimulate the process of engagement. The coordinated approach is built on a cessation framework to guide organizations in the development of a comprehensive tobacco cessation strategy and a screening guide designed for use by organizations and individuals to triage tobacco users to programs and resources appropriate to their needs. Multi-level consultations are planned for the fall of 2003.
Results:Canada is working towards a general framework for tobacco cessation which includes a stepped care approach to cessation based on interest in quitting, level of addiction, confidence, social support and other factors. This approach is based on a spectrum of low intensity (motivational enhancement) to high intensity (intense counselling plus pharmacotherapy) interventions. Peer review and pilot testing of the approach will lead to further refinement of the model.
Conclusions:Lessons learned include the need for stakeholder buy-in to a national framework, the benefits of triaging tobacco users as opposed to a "one model fits all" approach and the need to have cessation programs in place prior to implementing a stepped care model.
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