Tobacco smoking is the number one cause of preventable disease and death in Canada; it is highly addictive and hard to stop. Recognizing these challenges, a new guideline from the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care provides a menu of effective options to help people quit smoking, with behavioural and medication options and a natural health product that can be tailored and combined for personal choice. The guideline is published in CMAJ (Canadian medical Association Journal) https://www.cmaj.ca/lookup/doi/10.1503/cmaj.241584.
Quitting smoking can be hard, and people may need to try to quit many times with a variety of options like counselling, medication or in combination. We have created a menu of options that work to address tobacco smoking and can be tailored to personal preferences to help people quit.”
Dr.Eddy Lang, task force member, emergency physician at the University of Calgary and guideline coauthor
Tobacco smoking increases the risk of cancers such as lung, mouth, throat and bladder cancers; respiratory disease; cardiovascular disease; and more. Tobacco contains more then 7000 chemicals and 70 carcinogens.
In 2022, 11% of Canadians aged 15 years or older smoked tobacco, and about 75% of those smoked daily. Populations at higher risk of smoking include single,separated,divorced,or widowed people; people who identify as gay or bisexual; First Nations,Inuit or Métis people; people with mental health issues or substance use disorders; and those who work in jobs that do not require specific training or education levels.
Targeted at clinicians, smoking cessation practitioners, and patients, the guideline includes tools to help people decide which options are best for them, alone or in conversation with a health care provider. It is indeed based on the latest evidence and aligns well with international guidelines.
What should clinicians do to help patients?
- Know your patients’ smoking status as part of good clinical care
- Encourage all patients who smoke tobacco to quit with one or more recommended smoking cessation options
- Engage in shared decision-making to determine the best option(s) based on patient preferences
What interventions does the guideline recommend?
- Behavioral
- Primary care advice
- Individual or group counselling by trained cessation counsellor (in person or telephone)
- Text messaging interventions
- Self-help materials
- Pharmacotherapy
- Nicotine replacement therapy (patch, gum, lozenges, inhaler or spray)
- Bupropion SR
- Varenicline
- natural Health Products
- Hypnosis
The guideline acknowledges that quitting smoking is a process and that relapse is common. It emphasizes the importance of ongoing support and encouragement.