Establishing a campus based smoking cessation program in Lebanon
| Author(s)
Christine Abbyad
| | Presenter(s) |
Dr Christine Abbyad Clinical Assistant Professor, American Universtiy of Beirut, Lebanon | Abstract The WHO estimates that 58.8% of Lebanese smoke. Most start smoking at age 14, with 40% of 13 to 15 year olds having tried at least one cigarette. Upon reaching university, prevalence of smoking cigarettes and/or waterpipe is as high as 40%. Campus based smoking cessation programs do not exist in Lebanon. Results of a survey of American University of Beirut smokers indicated that: 64% considered themselves addicted to cigarettes, and 12% to waterpipe; 61% were moderately to highly motivated to quit; 58% had tried to quit at least once; 85% knew of no quit program in Lebanon; and 76% wanted a campus based program. Following the survey a campus based cessation program was initiated.
The program follows international clinical guidelines. Motivated individuals attend eight weekly sessions each lasting 45 minutes. In addition to nicotine replacement, the program offers strategies for quitting, group, and individual support. Participants are followed for up to 2 years. The university health insurance program ensures cessation medicines are offered free. A volunteer nurse leads the sessions and is in the process of training additional nurses.
The success of the program has encouraged the university medical center to consider widening cessation services to special populations.
| Presenter biography Chris Abbyad PhD, is clinical assistant professor at the Hariri School of Nursing at the American University of Beirut. She teaches in the undergraduate and graduate programs. For 16 years she taught clinical nursing at The University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing. She holds a bachelor’s degree, MSN, and WHNP from the University of California in San Francisco and a PhD in nursing from The University of Texas at Austin.
Dr. Abbyad has held positions in education, as a clinical nurse specialist, and as a women’s health nurse practitioner with an interest in perinatal health and smoking cessation.
| Source of funding: None
| Declaration of interest: None
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