Tobacco Cessation Basics
Smoking, including light and social smoking, leads to disease and disability and harms nearly every organ of the body. It is the leading cause of preventable death. 13.7% of all adults in the US (15.6% of men, 12.0% of women) were current cigarette smokers in 2018. We can have a great impact by helping tobacco using members quit.
Smoking and Tobacco Use: Fast Facts.
https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/index.htm
The Essential Components of a Quit Plan
An effective quit plan for tobacco cessation addresses the following three aspects of tobacco use.
Physical addiction to nicotine – Ease withdrawal with quit-meds
Environmental factors – Minimize exposure to tobacco users and triggers, build support network
Behavioral – Use problem solving skills to plan alternate behaviors to tobacco use and manage stress
Registration and Intake call
- Learn about member, level of addiction, readiness to quit, etc. using the intake survey questions.
- Help member develop a quit plan and set a quit date.
- Select and order nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) using the NRT Ordering Module.
Quit Date Call
- Review components of member’s quit plan.
- Emphasize proper use of NRT.
- Provide support and answer any questions.
- For members in Craving to Quit introduce the RAIN strategy to deal with cravings
Follow-Up Calls: 3 days, 1 week, 1 month (post quit-date)
- Congratulate success.
- Review and adjust quit plan and support network if needed.
- Assess NRT effectiveness, compliance and side effects; emphasize proper use and completion of entire course.
- Provide support and answer questions.
- Focus on relapse prevention.
- For members in Craving to Quit reinforce the RAIN strategy on the 3 day call
- Order second shipment of NRT on 3-day or 1-week call as appropriate.
- Order third shipment NRT on 1-month call as appropriate.