The UAE's Ministry of Health and Prevention (Mohap) has taken a significant step towards combating tobacco addiction by launching a detailed guide for health professionals. This guide outlines comprehensive strategies for counseling and supporting individuals through every stage of quitting tobacco, including e-cigarettes.
Key Features of the Guide:
- Counseling and Support: The guide emphasizes the importance of psychological support for those looking to quit, for current users who are reluctant to stop, and for former smokers who might face relapse.
- Advanced Tools: It introduces advanced international tests to measure nicotine dependency and employs technology to assess a patient's readiness to quit and their risk of resuming tobacco use.
- Preventive Care: There is a strong focus on follow-up care to prevent relapse, leveraging the collective efforts of healthcare staff to manage health programs aimed at reducing tobacco use.
- Training for Health Professionals: The document aims to equip healthcare providers with the necessary skills to assist patients in quitting tobacco use, thus protecting the community from its harmful effects.
Effective Counseling Methods: The guide details three effective forms of counseling for treating tobacco use:
- Practical Counseling: Involves problem-solving and skills training.
- Intra-treatment Social Support: A supportive clinical environment helps patients in their quitting journey.
- Extra-treatment Social Support: Support groups and community resources play a crucial role.
Role of Healthcare Professionals: Healthcare professionals are encouraged to use every patient contact as an opportunity to:
- Advise smokers to quit.
- Provide brief counseling.
- Prescribe cessation medications.
- Connect patients to additional resources.
- Offer continuous support to help prevent relapse.
Alarming Statistics and Health Risks:
- According to the National Health Survey of 2018, 16% of men and 2.5% of women in the UAE smoke.
- Smoking is linked to a substantial chronic disease burden in the Middle East.
- Tobacco smoke contains over 7,000 chemicals, many of which are known carcinogens and toxins.
- Globally, tobacco is the leading preventable cause of disease and premature death, killing nearly eight million people annually.
Withdrawal Support: To combat withdrawal symptoms, the guide recommends the "Four Ds":
- Deep Breaths: Mimicking the act of smoking to relax and alleviate cravings.
- Drink Water: Staying hydrated can help reduce cravings.
- Distract: Keeping busy to take the mind off smoking.
- Delay: Cravings typically last only 5 to 10 minutes; delaying action can help manage them.
Dr. Hussain Al Rand, assistant undersecretary of the Public Health Sector, emphasized that this guide is a key part of the ministry's strategy to reduce tobacco use and improve the national tobacco consumption index. The initiative not only aims to aid individuals in quitting smoking but also enhances public health by reducing the impact of secondhand smoke.
This new resource is expected to make significant strides in public health management, offering a beacon of hope for those struggling with tobacco addiction in the UAE.
