Smoking Cessation Intervention For Smokers Living with COPD in Tower Hamlets
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Author(s)
Jane Stephenson-Glynn
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| Presenter(s) |
Jane Stephenson-Glynn Public Health Programme Manager, London Borough of Tower Hamlets |
Abstract Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) refers to chronic, progressive and irreversible airflow obstruction and is mainly caused by cigarette smoking. Stopping smoking at any point along the disease trajectory will help to delay disease progression and symptomatic control.
AIMS:
• Discover ways to improve access into cessation services for this client group
• To establish direct referral pathways between providers of spirometry and the smoking cessation services.
Method: 169 locally registered smokers living with COPD received a letter inviting them to attend a clinic. Over 50 of these patients also received an invitation phone call from the local specialist stop smoking service.
Results: Although the number of those who set a quit date was small, the quit rate was high at 60%. The follow up phone calls made by the specialist service were key in encouraging patients to attend. The quit rate demonstrates that smokers living with COPD can, and will, quit given the right encouragement and environment.
As a result of this project a referral pathway has been implemented into the Tower Hamlets COPD care package in which all registered smokers living with COPD are invited to receive a motivational phone call from the local specialist stop smoking clinic.
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Presenter biography Jane Stephenson-Glynn has worked as a specialist stop smoking practitioner for over 12 years specialising in work with young people and writing and presenting training for health professionals. Since working within Tower Hamlets Public Health from 2009, as smoking cessation programme manager, she has taken a special interest in smokers living with COPD and also works passionately to ensure that quality local smoking and tobacco cessation services are accessible and appropriate for all.
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Source of funding: LBTH
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Declaration of interest: None
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