Children’s centre workforces and smoking cessation: a pragmatic pilot to reduce health inequalities in England through increasing smoking cessation referrals for parents and carers
|
Author(s)
Dr Lucy Hackshaw and Dr Andy McEwen
|
| Presenter(s) |
Dr Lucy Hackshaw Research Officer in Applied Health Policy Research, University of Bath / UK Centre for Tobacco Control Studies |
Abstract Smoking cessation by parents/carers of young children will improve health of the adults and children, and reduce the risk of those children initiating smoking. Children’s centres (CCs) are service hubs focused in areas of high deprivation, aiming to ensure every child gets the best start in life. Stop Smoking Services (SSSs) are underutilised, especially by the most vulnerable smokers, who are known to have the lowest quit rates. We aimed to develop and pilot an integrated referral system from CCs to SSSs, targeted at parents/carers registered within the CCs.
The referral system was implemented in six CCs in the East Midlands, and five CCs in the North West. All parents and carers who attended these CCs were approached by a Referral Liaison Advisor. If they were identified as a smoker they were referred to the Local SSS, unless they chose to opt out.
Referral uptake was initially low, however a number of adaptations to the system were implemented which lead to an increase in referral numbers. These included a local smoking cessation champion being identified within each CC and using smoke-free homes to signpost to smoking cessation. Lessons have been learnt about the challenges of working with this target group.
|
Source of funding: This is one of six inequalities in health pilots run under the auspices of the UK Centre for Tobacco Control Studies, funded by the Department of Health
|
Declaration of interest: None
|
| |
