Innovative approaches to reducing health inequalities through online face-to-face, telehealth stop smoking services
Author(s)
Leena Sankla and John Guyatt.
Presenter(s)
Leena Sankla Project Director, Solutions 4 Health, Reading
John Guyatt Telehealth Director, Solutions 4 Health, Reading
Abstract
In order to reach out to smokers who want to quit smoking, it is important that as many barriers are removed as possible and that multiple channels exist where smokers can get help to quit. In partnership with various NHS PCT’s we have recently introduced another way of accessing smokers in our quest to get prevalence lower in the UK.
SmokeFreeLife (www.smokefreelife.co.uk) is the first global web based online video chat behaviour support application. This is ideal for those that find it difficult to get to traditional clinics, are house bound, unable to travel, may not have English as their first language, or may require support in sign language. This innovative service gives them the opportunity to access a stop smoking service by booking an appointment with an advisor, in their specific language at a time convenient to them from the comfort of their home or workplace.
This service emulates a normal face to face clinic and follows the latest NCSCT guidelines. During the consultation, the advisor provides stop smoking counselling and behavioural support as well as taking their CO readings, prescribing NRT as appropriate, recording patient results as well as recording other vital signs as a part of their lifestyle change. Service user can also choose to use mobile text messaging and/or instant messaging. To embrace innovation further, the service user can engage with an advisor on multiple devices including PC’s, smart phones, & tablet computers.
Source of funding: Solutions 4 Health
Declaration of interest: The telehealth product Smokefreelife has been developed by Solutions 4 Health to reach out to smokers in helping them to quit smoking, the programme is protected by copyright, and licences to use it are commercially available from Solutions4Health.
