April 2018
April 2018
Make every day World No Tobacco Day
Welcome to the April edition of Public Health Network Cymru’s ebulletin. This months ebulletin will focus on WHOs World No Tobacco Day which takes place on 31 May. Every year WHO and partners mark World No Tobacco Day to highlight the health and other risks associated with tobacco use and advocating for effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption. The focus of World No Tobacco Day 2018 is “Tobacco and heart disease.” World Tobacco Day coincides with a range of global initiatives and opportunities aimed at addressing the tobacco epidemic and it’s impact of public health, particularly in causing the death and suffering of millions of people globally. These actions include the WHO-supported Global Hearts and RESOLVE initiatives, which aim to reduce cardiovascular disease deaths and improve care, and the third United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting on the Prevention and Control of NCDs, being held in 2018.
@PHNetworkCymru
Spotlight on World No Tobacco Day Help Me Quit 1 year on Public Health Wales has launched its ‘Help Me Quit’ scheme bringing together dozens of pharmacists, hospital workers, midwives and dedicated stop smoking experts to help would-be quitters. In the Cardiff and Vale health board area, more than 60,000 people smoke and there is a team of people who work to help those who want to quit smoking. One of them is Helen Poole, who is part of the University Health Board’s in-house hospital team of stop smoking experts and is based at the University Hospital Wales. She said: “I want to be able to help and support people, and empower them to realise that they can survive and thrive in a life without tobacco. “A great example of someone taking back their life from cigarettes is a man who was referred to me with diabetes and circulation problems. He was in his 60s and had been smoking for the majority of his life. As a result, the circulation in one of his legs had deteriorated so much that his consultant decided that he’d have to have the leg amputated. “The surgery was scheduled six months down the line so he was referred to me to help him quit smoking so that his recovery would be better. He wasn’t happy about having to give up smoking but he agreed to give it a go. “At every appointment, he told me how much he missed smoking but he managed to stay strong and didn’t have another cigarette. At his next appointment with his consultant, he was told that his circulation had improved so much that he didn’t even need the surgery anymore. The only thing he changed during that six months was quitting smoking. You can read the rest of the article on the Penarth Times Website.
World No Tobacco Day Every year, on 31 May, WHO and partners mark World No Tobacco Day (WNTD), highlighting the health and other risks associated with tobacco use, and advocating for effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption. The focus of World No Tobacco Day 2018 is "Tobacco and heart disease." The campaign will increase awareness on the: • link between tobacco and heart and other cardiovascular diseases (CVD), including stroke, which combined are the world’s leading causes of death; • feasible actions and measures that key audiences, including governments and the public, can take to reduce the risks to heart health posed by tobacco. World No Tobacco Day 2018 coincides with a range of global initiatives and opportunities aimed at addressing the tobacco epidemic and its impact of public health, particularly in causing the death and suffering of millions of people globally. These actions include the WHO-supported Global Hearts and RESOLVE initiatives, which aim to reduce cardiovascular disease deaths and improve care, and the third United Nations General Assembly High-level Meeting on the Prevention and Control of NCDs being held in 2018. How tobacco endangers the heart health of people worldwide World No Tobacco Day 2018 will focus on the impact tobacco has on the cardiovascular health of people worldwide. Tobacco use is an important risk factor for the development of coronary heart disease, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease. Despite the known harms of tobacco to heart health, and the availability of solutions to reduce related death and disease, knowledge among large sections of the public that tobacco is one of the leading causes of CVD is low. For more information and resources, you can visit the WHO website.
New research shows that primary school children have a good level of awareness of e-cigarettes The report, ‘Is it all smoke without fire? Welsh primary school children’s perceptions of electronic cigarettes’, highlights that most children (95 percent) can distinguish between tobacco and electronic cigarettes, with many thinking that e-cigarettes are safer and better than tobacco cigarettes. The report was commissioned by Public Health Wales to help understand children’s awareness and views about e-cigarettes, compared with smoking tobacco. The report, jointly published by Public Health Wales and the Public Health Institute at Liverpool John Moores University, highlights that almost 94% of the children acknowledged the harmful effects of smoking but that children had little understanding of any health harms of electronic cigarettes. There was considerable uncertainty and many misperceptions. Some younger children for example, mistook the fruit flavours as being an indication that the e-liquids contained fruit and were therefore healthy. The researchers observed that an underlying theme throughout the findings was that children described electronic cigarettes as being ‘better’ and ‘healthier’ than tobacco cigarettes. While this is certainly the case for adult smokers who are trying to reduce their harm from smoking, there is clear international consensus that non smokers, particularly children and young people should not use e-cigarettes. Over a fifth of the children who completed the questionnaire had some exposure to electronic and tobacco cigarettes through family and friends at home. This was found to have influenced children’s perceptions of smoking and vaping with the findings suggesting that children exposed to electronic cigarettes at home are better informed than their peers. You can read the rest of the article on the Public Health Wales website.
What we did
Who took part
Is it all smoke without fire? Welsh Primary School Children’s Perceptions of Electronic Cigarettes 498 children
Girl
Boy
Age 7
Age 9
Age 11
52.2%
47.8% (n=236)
33.3%
37.4%
29.3%
participated from
8 schools
across Wales
(n=258)
Questionnaire (n = 498)
Class based or small group activity. Children completed a questionnaire
Draw & Write (n = 498)
Class based or small group activity. Children completed 2 draw and write inquiries about smoking and vaping
(n=165)
(n=185)
Peer Discussion (n = 96)
(n=145)
Four children (2 boys / 2 girls) from each class took part in a semi-structured peer discussions
Children are aware of electronic cigarettes and can differentiate them from tobacco cigarettes
What we found
Children believe people mainly use electronic cigarettes to stop smoking and smoke tobacco cigarettes to look cool Children have little understanding of health harms of electronic cigarettes Children perceive vaping and smoking to be unacceptable for children but more acceptable for adults
Exposure to electronic and tobacco cigarettes through family and friends influences children’s perceptions of smoking and vaping
What next
Few children intend to use electronic cigarettes or smoke tobacco cigarettes when they grow up Electronic cigarette education is needed in Welsh primary schools
Health messaging should reinforce the view that electronic cigarettes are for smoking cessation
Research is needed to understand how perceptions can influence future vaping behaviour Image Source: The Noun Project
March 2018
Further information about the study can be found at Public Health Institute: www.ljmu.ac.uk/phi and Public Health Wales: www.wales.nhs.uk
NHS Help Me Quit services GP video launched
Since its launch last April, the NHS Wales Help Me Quit campaign has engaged with approximately 30,000 people throughout Wales. The campaign was launched in recognition that for many people smoking has become a habit too hard to quit without help and support. Its aim is to increase awareness of the range of expert stop smoking help that is available and this is something that must continue. Whilst traditionally there have been several stop smoking service brands in use across Wales, Help Me Quit was launched to bring these together to make it clearer for smokers to get all support and guidance they need to quit smoking. Most smokers take several attempts to quit before they finally succeed and evidence confirms that smokers are four times more likely to quit successfully by using medication alongside behavioural support, than if they attempt to quit unaided. This medication and support can be accessed free of charge via Help Me Quit.
Key Smoking Statistics fOR WALES National Survey for Wales shows that smoking prevalence
19% or approximately 476,000 smokers in wales
rates in Wales have fallen to
Smoking causes approximately
5,450 deaths
each year in Wales
costs the Welsh NHS an estimated ÂŁ302 million per year Smoking remains one of the main causes of inequalities in health, with smoking rates in the most deprived areas over double those Smoking
of the least deprived areas
ASH Wales Supports Submission to Select Committee On-Screen Smoking Habits
Tobacco control charity Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) Wales is supporting a submis warning that smoking on TV and in films encourages children to take up smoking.
The submission to the Science and Technology Select Committee, sent jointly by ASH Eng Tobacco and Alcohol studies (UKCTAS), includes new YouGov results showing 81% of 11 to 15 18-year-olds have seen smoking in films. For TV, the stats were 68% for 11 to 15-year-olds and
One of the worst offenders for not only showing smoking but also branded packs was the favourite, Love Island. The show created an estimated 47 million tobacco-related impression
The submission also includes new figures from Cancer Research UK showing that de prevalence, many young people are still taking up smoking. Between 2014 and 2016 arou started smoking for the first time in England, equivalent to 17 classrooms of secondary sch this figure stands at 30 children a day. Research shows that over 60% of those who try smoki smokers.
Suzanne Cass, Chief Executive of ASH Wales, said: “A classroom full of children take up smok Young people are the tobacco industry’s key target since they are the only ones who can rep customers. Most adult smokers started the habit as a teen, at an age when they were most im
“Smoking adverts have been banned for many years on TV and at cinemas. It is hard not to q especially among young person-specific programmes.”
The percentage of Oscar-nominated films containing smoking rose dramatically in 2018 – u general viewing, but some scenes may be unsuitable for young children) had the highest sm
Tobacco Control Alliance Backs Calls to Tackle Illegal
A tobacco control alliance is backing calls for a Wales-wide programme to tackle the illegal t
A documentary about the prevalence of illegal tobacco and the action being taken to comb Tuesday 10th April.
It follows a report by the tobacco control charity ASH Wales which showed illegal tobacco m
The Wales Tobacco Control Alliance (WTCA) - made up of health organisations including the says a coordinated programme is needed to tackle illegal tobacco to make it less available t
The WTCA says a multi-agency approach, supported by a comprehensive communications p
Cigarettes and hand rolling tobacco are classed as illegal if they’ve either been smuggled into made to look like big name brands. To read more, you can visit the ASH wales website.
e Warning on Harms of UK’s
ssion to the UK Government
gland and the UK Centre for 5-year-olds and 88% of 16 to d 77% of 16 to 18-year-olds.
e young person’s reality TV ns on children aged under 16.
espite declines in smoking und 127,000 children a year hool children a day. In Wales ing go on to become regular
king every day here in Wales. place their lifelong, but dying, mpressionable.
question why we are seeing such a rapid rise in the obvious placement of tobacco products,
up to 86% from 60% four years ago. The Churchill biopic ‘Darkest Hour’ (rated PG, meaning moking prevalence of any film.
Tobacco in Wales
tobacco problem in Wales.
bat it was aired on S4C’s Welsh language ‘Y Byd ar Bedwar: Dan y Cownter’ programme on
makes up 15% of the entire tobacco market in Wales - higher than any UK region.
e British Lung Foundation, British Heart Foundation, BMA Cymru and Tenovus Cancer Care to young people and to keep crime out of our communities.
plan, would significantly reduce the supply and demand of illegal tobacco across Wales.
o the country, bought abroad as ‘duty free’ and avoided UK taxes, or are counterfeit products
Help people make informed decisions when they wan England.
NICE and Public Health Engla on the best ways to help peo the highest risk of harm from recommends that people are care worker. It also highlights estimated local population wh
The guideline includes eviden support, non- nicotine medica very brief advice. It was noted guideline recommends that p
Professor Gillian Leng, Deputy cause of preventable illness a to quit.
“As a relatively new product, the long-term impact of their short-term use as well as the long that people who smoke should not be discouraged from switching to e-cigarettes becaus professionals help people make informed decisions on their use.”
In 2015/16, around 474,000 NHS hospital admissions in England were linked to smoking-re smoking.
Professor John Newton, director of Health Improvement, said: “Despite declining s wanting to quit, it’s vital that they get the support they need to give them the best chance of
“All frontline healthcare professionals play a role and this new guidance provides recommen
nt to quit smoking, says NICE and Public Health
and have published updated guidelines for health practitioners and stop smoking services ople quit smoking. The new guideline recommends prioritising specific groups who are at m smoking, such as women who are pregnant and people with mental health problems. It e asked about their smoking and encouraged to stop every time they see a health or social the existing targets that stop smoking services should set, such as treating at least 5% of the ho smoke each year.
nce-based interventions that should be available to adults who smoke including: behavioural ations to help cravings and withdrawal symptoms, nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and d that people who smoke often ask healthcare professionals about using e-cigarettes. The people should be advised on their use.
y Chief Executive and Director of Health and Social Care at NICE, said: “Smoking is the main and death in England. It is imperative that we give people the support and advice they need
g-term health impact of their long-term use is still developing. The committee was concerned se the evidence is still developing. Our guidance therefore recommends that healthcare
elated conditions. In addition to this in 2015 around 16% (79,000) of all deaths were due to
smoking rates, nearly 7 million people in England still smoke. With most smokers f success.
ndations to inform their advice to patients who smoke.�
18
EU Health Award for NGOs working to prevent tobacc
The European Commission dedicates this fourth contributed or are contributing to a higher level o
“
We know from experience that a multi-pronged approach is necessary to reduce tobacco use in the EU, therefore the work of NGOs in communicating to citizens about the dangers of tobacco is an invaluable part of our overall effort.
”
Vytenis Andriukaitis European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety
D R A W A H to prevent T L A E H g EU
kin r o w s for NGO tobacco use /2018 5/06 dline: 1 Dea
Health and Food Safety
Tobacco consumption is the single largest avoida be the largest single cause of preventable death 50% of smokers die prematurely (on average 14 ye to address the burden of tobacco-consumption a succeeded1. A smoke-free lifestyle means better life.
According to the May 2017 Special Eurobaromete decline between 2006 and 2017 in the proportio report stressed that in terms of the changes amon for respondents aged 15-24 who are now slightly 29%).
Tobacco use by adolescents and young adults ca with serious, long-term health consequences. Giv as to adolescents. There is also evidence that del that they become regular tobacco users and incre
The role of NGOs is crucial in the effort to ensure
Vytenis Andriukaitis, Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, announced the Award on th age of 18 and 94% starting before the age of 25, it is vital that we focus our tobacco preventio bacco products less attractive to young people, including bans on characterising flavours, pa approach is necessary to reduce tobacco use in the EU. In this respect, the work of NGOs in effort. It will therefore be my great pleasure to recognise and reward outstanding initiatives b
With this award, the European Commission will highlight and reward outstanding initiativ significantly contributed to prevent tobacco use within the EU population. Initiatives should d
As with the previous EU Health Awards, this award is linked to the European Commission’s serve as models for the future. Access to this database should inspire other NGOs and pub good practices to protect human health and raise the quality of life of EU citizens.
The European Commission calls upon international, European, national and regional NGOs a 2018. The call for applications is open to initiatives that work to achieve a higher level of publi among adolescents and young adults. For more information you can visit the European Commission website.
co use
edition of the EU Health Award to initiatives of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that of public health in the European Union by working to prevent tobacco use.
able health risk in the European Union. 26% of Europeans smoke, and smoking continues to and disease in the EU. It is the most significant cause of premature death in the EU; around ears earlier than non-smokers). In the past years a number of initiatives have been developed across Europe, where 54% of smokers have reportedly tried to quit smoking and only 20% health and increased well-being, more disposable income and ultimately a better quality of
er on the attitudes of Europeans towards tobacco and electronic cigarettes, there was a 6% on of those who smoke, with a declining trend in 21 of the 28 Member States. However, the ng socio-demographic groups since 2014, one of the most prominent shifts can be observed y more likely to say that they smoke more than before (+ 4 percentage points, from 25% to
auses nicotine addiction which increases the likelihood of ending up smoking into adulthood, ven the above, smoking prevention efforts would need to be targeted to young adults as well laying the age when adolescents and young people begin using tobacco can reduce the risk ease their chances of successfully quitting.
e a successful prevention of tobacco use.
he occasion of World Health Day, saying "With 70% of smokers in Europe starting before the on efforts on young Europeans. The Commission has put in place tough legislation to make toackaging gimmicks and packs of 10. However, we know from experience that a multi-pronged n communicating to citizens about the dangers of tobacco is an invaluable part of our overall by NGOs which help young people refrain from tobacco use."
ves of international, European, national or regional non-governmental bodies which have demonstrate added value in preventing tobacco use.
s work to build up a database of good practices in various health fields from NGOs that can blic authorities in EU Member States as well as international organisations to replicate these
active in preventing tobacco use to present details of their initiatives to the EU Health Award ic health for EU citizens, in particular through actions aimed at avoiding tobacco use initiation
wATCH, lISTEN and Learn Podcasts A recent addition to the range of resources and services we are providing to members has been the podcast series that is proving very popular. The podcast library presently contains short podcasts on subjects ranging from Alcohol & Older People to Learning Disabilities in Hospitals and plenty in between. However, the team are keen to continue to develop the library and always looking for enthusiastic members who would like to contribute to the increasing range of topics and discussions. If you, or someone you know, would like to share or talk about a service, project or initiative related to any aspect of public health and health promotion, we can provide the technology if you can provide a little of your time. If you are keen, willing and able please do drop us an e.mail to publichealth.network@wales.nhs.uk and we will be delighted to discuss a potential podcast with you. It should be noted that we cannot use podcasts to promote any commercial product or service.
Youtube The Contribution of Allied Health Professionals to Public Health
Cardiff council wants to introduce five “cycle superhighways” This is the first look at a specially-designed cycle route which Cardiff council hopes will get more people on their bikes. As part of a 15-year plan, the local authority wants to introduce five “cycle superhighways”. They are continuous routes which see cyclists separated from motor vehicles and pedestrians where needed. The first images released show a 1km and bike path “fully segregated” from the road with a kerb between the path and road. The first section which could be installed is at St Andrew’s Crescent along St Andrew’s Place and Senghennydd Road. Cabinet member Caro Wild this would be the first step towards making Cardiff a friendlier cycling city. He said this had been chosen as the first location due to its busy location. “This is a busy route with lots of students and it would start us on our way right up to the hospital. “That is a key transport route for us. We know there is lots of demand there.” Read more here
On the Grapevine
First look at council’s cycle ‘superhighway’ plan which aims to get more people on their bikes
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Close to Home: The Right to Housing
How do we ensure the human right to housing remains a priority?
Tai Pawb Annual Conference 2018 17th May - Future Inn, Cardiff Featured Speakers: • • • •
Professor Geraldine Van Bueren QC, International Human Rights Lawyer Peter Tatchell, Human Rights Activist Rebecca Evans AM, Minister for Housing and Regeneration Mica Moore, Olympic Bobslegher
Book online now: www.taipawb.org/closetohome Principal Sponsor - Valleys to Coast
The Headlines
New Calculations Confirm Lifestyle Changes Could Prevent 4 in 10 Cancer Cases Causes of cancer can be placed into two rough camps: things we can control, and others that we can’t. The latter includes things like random changes to our genes as we get older, or those that are passed down through families. By their nature, there’s not much we can do about these risks. But for the many causes we do have some control over, such as smoking, there’s a potentially life-saving chance to act.
Major Consultation Launched on Children’s Health and Physical Activity ukactive has launched a major new consultation that will shape the future of children’s physical activity across the UK. Chair of ukactive and former Paralympian Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson has called for everyone from children and physical activity providers to social workers and policymakers, to feed into a new report focused on the opportunities to improve children’s health.
New employability plan aims to tackle unemployment and economic inactivity Eliminating the gap in unemployment and economic inactivity rates between Wales and the UK average within ten years; reducing the number of people who are Not in Education, Employment or Training; (NEET); increasing the number of disabled people in work; and eliminating the qualification gap between Wales and the rest of the UK are the main aims of the Welsh Government’s new employability plan.
Wales - world leading on investment for health and well-being The World Health Organization (WHO) has designated Public Health Wales’ Policy, Research and International Development Directorate as a WHO Collaborating Centre on ‘Investment for Health and Well-being’. The designation recognises Public Health Wales as a world leading authority on supporting investment in people’s health and well-being, driving sustainable development and promoting prosperity for all.
Alcohol cHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE cOMMUNITIES education Environment Gambling Gender Homelessness Lifestyle Maternal and Newborn Mental Health Noncommunicable diseases Nutrition Older People Oral Health Parents People with disabilities Pharmacy Physical Activity Policy Poverty Prisoners Research and Evidence Sexual Health Sexuality Smoking Substance Misuse Unemployment Veterans Violence and Abuse Work
Whats on in
May
1
7
14
2
3
4
Understanding How to Safeguard the Welfare of Children & Young People
New Pathways SURE for Mental Health Interactive Conference 2018
Child Sexual Exploitation
Young People & Substance Misuse: Why the Drugs Don’t Work
Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff
8
9
10
Understanding and Responding to Bullying Behaviours
ACE – Building Resilience in the Face of Adverse Childhood experiences
Mental Health Today Wales 2018
Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff
15
16
17
11
18
Cultural Awareness in Safeguarding Children
Sustainability Showcase 2018
Dementia Action Week Open Morning
Cultural Awareness in Safeguarding Children
Cardiff
Camarthen
Swansea
Colwyn Bay
21
22
23
24
Multimorbidity Research at the Cross-Roads
Towards Play Sufficiency: Making Sense of the Research
Young LGBTQ Dyspraxia People: Making things The Cinderella of perfectly Queer Developmental Disorders
Stockholm
Wrexham
Cardiff
28 Move Week
National Event
29
30
Cardiff
31
25
Sold Out Sold Out
in the next issue Child Safety Week