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To all GPs & Practice Nurses Dear Colleagues NEWSFLASH: A smoker can now self refer and anyone can make a referral from the home page by clicking the Get Started button. Following a successful national pilot smokestop remains free. Over 500 referrals were made throughout NZ and 82% of survey respondents found that smokestop supported them providing a brief advice to smokers. An increase in the number of brief advices given was demonstrated in the sentinel practices. Most GPs and Practice Nurses found making a referral easy. It is expected that smoking status and brief advice documentation will be introduced as new PHO performance management indicators. smokestop will support your practice to meet these requirements.
Background smokestop has been shown to be a cost effective cessation option (CTRU study 2006, carbon monoxide verified, with 74% smoker endorsement). Many smokers are unwilling to use other traditional services. NZ rates highly on internet and mobile phone use; smokestop uses these increasingly popular technologies to assist with positive lifestyle changes. Research indicates that smoking should be viewed as a chronic disease consisting of multiple quit and relapse cycles. A priority of cessation initiatives is to increase the number of quit attempts. The recommendation of a GP or Practice Nurse can be significantly influential in prompting smokers’ quit attempts.
Promoting smokestop in your practice We welcome your referrals of smokers. Click here for instructions on how to refer a smoker to smokestop. If you have any further queries to email us click here. Providing a brief quit advice is one of the most significant contributions you can make for your patients who want to be free of smoking and experience the benefits to their health. Regards Dr Andrew Lawson MBChB DipObs FRNZCGP |
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