DHA smoking cessation clinic records increase in quitting rate

DHA’s smoking cessation clinics recorded an increase in the quitting rate from 11 per cent in 2012 to 14 per cent in 2013 and 17 per cent in 2014.

Approximately 300 smokers visited the Al Twar and Al Barsha smoking cessation clinics in 2014.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, January 22, 2015: The Dubai Health Authority’s smoking cessation clinics recorded an increase in its quitting rate, said a top health official.

The clinics recorded an increase in the quitting rate from 11 per cent in 2012 to 14 per cent in 2013 and 17 per cent in 2015. Globally the quitting rate is in the range of 10 to 20 per cent.

In 2014, the Al Twar and Al Barsha smoking cessation clinics received an average of 300 patients, of which 95 per cent were male and 5 per cent were females.

Dr Hanan Obaid, head of acute and chronic disease unit, said: “We are pleased with the results of the audit that has showed an increase in the quitting rate.  In 2014, we greatly focused on follow-up of patients; we ensured that after every session, we follow-up with them and ask them about how they are coping with the treatment. Furthermore, we sent several messages to ensure they do not miss their appointments. We also paid emphasis to behavioral change techniques and coping strategies. In 2014, we also introduced nicotine patches in addition to other treatment available. All these factors as well as an increase in awareness about tobacco hazards have helped improve the quitting rate.”

She said the measures are in line with the Tobacco Free Dubai Project which was implemented in 2009 and the Dubai Health Strategy 2013-2025. Since the project was implemented in 2009, more than 60,000 people have benefited from the smoking cessation campaigns which the DHA has conducted across universities, schools, private and public sectors.

DHA conducts three dedicated smoking cessation clinics per week and all 14 primary healthcare centres refer smokers to these clinics as well as provide them with health information on the dangers of tobacco consumption.  

Dr Obaid said the clinic provides a holistic approach to help smokers stub the habit and overcome nicotine dependency. “The clinic caters to people who want to quit smoking by addressing their individual problems and by giving them medical and psychological support. The clinic reaches out to smokers to help them cope with nicotine withdrawal symptoms which is a factor that often dissuades them from stubbing the habit.”

She added that patients need most support when they experience these symptoms which can include nervousness, irritability, headaches, insomnia, tiredness, etc.

Dr Obaid added that DHA hospitals and health clinics often refer patients to the smoking cessation clinics. “Doctors refer cases to us especially those cases where the patient needs to urgently stop smoking. Such cases include smokers who have recently had a heart attack, lung problems etc.”    

Dr Nesreen Kaoud, specialist family physician at the DHA added that cigarette smoking is the number one risk factor for lung cancer and that tobacco smoke is a  mix of more than 4,000 chemicals, of which 250 are toxic and  at least 50 are known to cause cancer.  

Dr Kaoud highlighted the dangers of passive smoking and said: “Passive smoking is very harmful especially for small children who are still in the developmental stages of their life. According to WHO, almost half the children in the world, regularly breathe air polluted by tobacco smoke in public places.”

Dr Kaoud also added that one hour of shisha smoking involves inhaling 100-200 times the volume of smoke inhaled with a single cigarette and said it’s a myth that pipes are less harmful than cigarettes. “Pipes are more alkaline, more addictive and cause substantially higher risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and the relative risk of lip and oral cancer is also higher as compared to cigarette smoking.”

The DHA offers smoking cessation package so that smokers who visit the cessation clinic receive all aspects of medical care. The package includes blood investigations, ECG, lung function tests, Smokerlyzer test to measure the levels of toxic carbon monoxide (CO) inhaled from tobacco smoke. The cessation clinics also provide medical and psychological support to smokers.
    
The Smoking Cessation Clinic at Al Barsha provides cessation programs and counselling every |Tuesday, for more information, please call 04-5023300  or 04- 5023302 and the Al Twar Centre provides cessation programs and counseling every  Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning, for more information, please call 04-5022101/2.