Conversations with community service organisations about smoking: what we heard TasCOSS collaborated with community service organisations (CSOs) to explore and understand the enablers and barriers for supporting people to quit smoking. These conversations focused on both CSO staff and people who use CSO services. The following is a summary of the main ideas and opinions we heard during these conversations.
Who did we talk to? TasCOSS collaborated with CSO staff through: • • • • •
18 formal interviews or focus groups 47 informal conversations 1 feedback workshop with 8 participants 48 surveys completed 76 invitations to participate
• regular meetings with a Steering Group of people from CSOs and peak bodies to guide the project.
Why did we talk to CSOs? We build long term trusting relationships with people who use our services, providing a safe space to have quit smoking conversations.
What did we talk about? What helps (enablers) and what gets in the way (barriers) of supporting people to quit smoking smoking? What is our role as CSOs?
What you told us is happening now CSOs have different cultures and capacities to have quit smoking conversations.
Why aren’t we talking? • Talking about smoking is not seen as a priority • Intake forms don’t ask about smoking • Lack of staff confidence, education and training • Need for improved health literacy of CSOs and clients
What is helping? • Ongoing trust between staff and people who use services • Quick and easy access to free, combination nicotine replacement therapy • Incentivising quit programs • Supporting workers to have quit smoking conversations • Providing education about smoking and quit smoking resources
What is making it hard? • Trauma experiences and other life issues • Smoking is an addiction and it is hard to quit • Some CSOs have a ‘smoking culture’ • It is difficult to access health care professionals and nicotine replacement therapy • High cost of nicotine replacement therapy
Why are we talking about smoking?
What else?
To understand the current and potential role of CSOs in supporting people to quit smoking.
• It is harder to have quit smoking conversations when people are accessing crisis care and easier during longer term relationships
• Acknowledging CSOs need resources and staffing
• Recognising some funding agreements limit taking a holistic approach to service delivery
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What you want to see happen in the future CSOs have strong connections with people to support quit smoking conversations and they need …
Sustainable programs • Programs relevant to community needs
Easy access
• Evidence based programs, guides and toolkits • Access to quit smoking support workers
• To doctors and health workers, including Aboriginal health workers, nurses, pharmacists
• Peer-to-peer learning
• To free, combination nicotine replacement therapy • To incentivising quit programs
Looking at the big picture
Support for workforces
• Reducing supply through fewer retailers and increasing the legal age for smoking
• Energised and positive quit smoking educators and training
• Acknowledging tobacco tax consequences • Thinking about tobacco ‘end game’ strategies
• Strengthening leadership and governance of CSOs to help quit smoking • Focusing on staff health and wellbeing
• Including conversations and programs about quitting smoking in everyday practice
• Supporting improved health literacy for CSOs and individuals
Quit Tasmania came onsite to have a conversation with staff and clients. That had a massive impact on clients. It really inspired people to try again.” — CLINICAL LEAD
Less talk, more action • Promoting leadership through boards, management and workplace champions who prioritise smoke-free places and people
I was challenged (to quit) by my own residents and seeing their journeys of success. Now I can say ‘I know what you have been through, I have walked in your shoes, let’s do this together’.”
We don’t have a lot of money, we don’t have a lot of people, and we don’t have a lot of time, so let’s do some things that are going to work.” — HEALTH PROMOTION PROGRAMS OFFICER
— NURSE
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