Prevention Clinics

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Smoking Cessation Clinic

Clinic description

A leader in preventive care, the ÉPIC Centre has a dedicated clinic that provides ongoing support to patients who are attempting to quit smoking.

This clinic is offered to ÉPIC Centre members, Prevention Clinic patients, and Montreal Heart Institute patients.

Facts about smoking

Did you know that, according to research, cigarette smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals? These include carbon monoxide, tar and a multitude of other harmful substances such as arsenic, lead and benzene. Cigarette smoke has also been found to contain approximately 50 carcinogenic substances.

Beyond causing the commonplace annoyances of coughing, shortness of breath, phlegm, and premature aging of the skin, smoking is one of the main risk factors for serious illnesses, and it reduces life expectancy by an average of approximately 10 years. The health problems that smoking causes include peptic ulcers, hypertension, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases, arteriosclerosis, chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Many types of cancer, including lung, neck and throat (larynx, esopharynx, oropharynx), esophagus, bladder, kidney and cervical cancer, are attributable to smoking.

Smoking is the number-one preventable cause of death in the world. Yet, the addictive power of tobacco is so strong that barely 3% to 10% of smokers succeed in quitting for one year without assistance. Success rates increase to between 15% and 20% when smokers benefit from some form of support.

The good news is that you can quit smoking—even after a long history as a smoker!

The sceptics will be happy to know that the risks for disease greatly diminish just a short time after smoking is stopped. Research has also shown that the risk for heart attack decreases mere days after smoking cessation and is cut in half in just one year. Five years after cessation, the risk for heart attack is essentially the same as for someone who has never smoked!

Individual appointments

At this clinic, a nurse consultant in tobacco prevention provides one-on-one support. The first meeting takes place at the start of the cessation process and allows the nurse to learn and pinpoint the client's needs in order to provide personalized support. To make a thorough assessment, the nurse will give the patient a number of questionnaires to complete. These questionnaires help the nurse:

• Get an overview of symptoms of anxiety or depression
• Assess the patient's degree of nicotine dependence
• Determine breath carbon monoxide levels
• Screen for early symptoms of chronic lung disease (further testing as needed)


During this initial meeting, the nurse and patient discuss several topics:

• The patient's previous attempt to quit
• The patient's motivations and fears about the upcoming attempt to quit
• The effects of tobacco use on the patient's overall health
• Any medications taken by the patient
• The patient's medical history

A smoking reduction or cessation plan is then developed based on the patient's personal goals. If the patient is interested in pharmacological support, the nurse will explain the various options available. The nurse can also suggest the ideal treatment for patients based on their previous experiences and medical history.

• Nicotine replacement therapy (patch, lozenge, gum, inhaler or spray)
• Champix
• Zyban

Telephone follow-up

After the first meeting, the nurse will make regular follow-up phone calls to advise, listen to, and encourage the patient. The goal is to prevent relapses and ensure that any pharmacological treatments are effective and that the patient is taking them properly. The nurse will watch out for withdrawal symptoms or medication side effects and will suggest dosage adjustments as needed. Patients may schedule additional meetings with the nurse to increase their chances of success. 

Referrals

If at any point the nurse suspects a psychological or physiological problem, he or she will make a referral to the appropriate health professional (physician, psychologist, respiratory therapist) to improve the patient's health condition and quality of life. 

Registration

For more information or to find out whether you are eligible for this clinic, contact us at 514-374-1480, extension 252.

Individual appointments

At this clinic, a nurse consultant in tobacco prevention provides one-on-one support. The first meeting takes place at the start of the cessation process and allows the nurse to learn and pinpoint the client's needs in order to provide personalized support. To make a thorough assessment, the nurse will give the patient a number of questionnaires to complete. These questionnaires help the nurse:

• Get an overview of symptoms of anxiety or depression
• Assess the patient's degree of nicotine dependence
• Determine breath carbon monoxide levels
• Screen for early symptoms of chronic lung disease (further testing as needed)


During this initial meeting, the nurse and patient discuss several topics:

• The patient's previous attempt to quit
• The patient's motivations and fears about the upcoming attempt to quit
• The effects of tobacco use on the patient's overall health
• Any medications taken by the patient
• The patient's medical history

A smoking reduction or cessation plan is then developed based on the patient's personal goals. If the patient is interested in pharmacological support, the nurse will explain the various options available. The nurse can also suggest the ideal treatment for patients based on their previous experiences and medical history.

• Nicotine replacement therapy (patch, lozenge, gum, inhaler or spray)
• Champix
• Zyban

Telephone follow-up

After the first meeting, the nurse will make regular follow-up phone calls to advise, listen to, and encourage the patient. The goal is to prevent relapses and ensure that any pharmacological treatments are effective and that the patient is taking them properly. The nurse will watch out for withdrawal symptoms or medication side effects and will suggest dosage adjustments as needed. Patients may schedule additional meetings with the nurse to increase their chances of success. 

Referrals

If at any point the nurse suspects a psychological or physiological problem, he or she will make a referral to the appropriate health professional (physician, psychologist, respiratory therapist) to improve the patient's health condition and quality of life. 

Registration

For more information or to find out whether you are eligible for this clinic, contact us at 514-374-1480, extension 252.