February 2020

ABC Focus special on e-cigarettes

Jessica Strutt (ABC 720) with Kelly Kennington (Cancer Council WA)

Earlier this month, Cancer Council WA's Kelly Kennington was invited to sit down and discuss e-cigarettes with Jessica Strutt for her program Focus. Other panelists included Dr Andy Robertson (WA's Chief Health Officer) and Rikki Smedley (Wild West Vapers shop owner).

Kelly raised concerns around the appeal of e-cigarettes in young people, their growing popularity and the lack of strong evidence regarding their safety and efficacy as a quitting tool.

You can listen to the full episode via the ABC website.

WA Cancer Plan 2020-2025

The WA Department of Health recently launched the WA State Cancer Plan for 2020-2025. Reducing smoking rates was listed as a key strategy in efforts to decrease the incidence of cancer in WA. Make Smoking History welcomes this sustained commitment to reducing tobacco use across the state.

Tobacco Control Journal

In case you missed it, Make Smoking History's Buttman poster made it to the cover of the Tobacco Control Journal! To read the latest edition, visit the Tobacco Control Journal website.

You can download a copy of the Buttman poster through the Cancer Council WA website.

Research and Reports

RACGP guidelines on supporting smoking cessation

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners has released the second edition of Supporting smoking cessation: A guide for health professionals. A key recommendation in the revised guide, is the adoption of the Ask, Advise, Help model, to ensure smokers receive the best possible advice and support to quit successfully. The guidelines also stated that “nicotine-containing e-cigarettes are not first-line treatments for smoking cessation. The strongest evidence base for efficacy and safety is for currently approved pharmacological therapies combined with behavioural support”. Cancer Council Australia has issued a statement on the new guidelines.

Factors influencing the willingness of community service organisation staff to provide smoking cessation support: a qualitative study

New research out of Western Australia has highlighted the importance of introducing routine smoking cessation care within community service organisations (CSO). The study also recognised that CSO staff would benefit from cessation support training and education on the feasibility of addressing smoking concurrently with other issues.

At Make Smoking History we partner with community and health services to increase client access to best practice smoking cessation care. We provide training, resources and support to implement a comprehensive approach to reducing client and staff smoking. For more information, visit our website.

Revised report from the Surgeon General (US)

The Smoking Cessation: A Report of the Surgeon General in the United States of America was released in January 2020. The report found that over 40% of adults who smoke do not receive advice to quit from a healthcare professional. Read the report or a summary.

Quit Kit Survey

Make Smoking History is currently reviewing the Quit Kit and have developed a short survey to determine if any changes are required.

If you have accessed the kit personally or for clients, we would appreciate your feedback before Monday 24 February 2020.

Complete the survey

Updated Quitline referral form

The Quitline (13 7848) has a new referral pad.

Referral pads can be ordered via the Department of Health online ordering system . You can also request copies from Cancer Council WA via email or contact the Quitline Aboriginal Liaison Team at the Aboriginal Health Council on 9227 1631.

A printable PDF is also available for download.

Please destroy any old referral forms you may be using as the details are now out of date. If you have any queries, contact Narelle Heydon at narelle.heydon@health.wa.gov.au or phone 9222 2428.

Download PDF

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Make Smoking History produces three different communications throughout the year, including:

Tobacco Toolbox (ie tobacco control news, reports and resources).
Campaign Update (ie new mass media campaign information).
Make Smoking History For Everyone e-news (ie updates for the community and health services sector).

If you would like to subscribe to one or more, email MakeSmokingHistory@cancerwa.asn.au.