GP Training - Catalogue

In this programme, we’ll explore the ways in which practice nurses
can initiate conversations about smoking cessation and keep the
conversation going, as well as focus on current approaches to
getting patients to stop smoking. This module provides an update
on the extent of the problem and offers some new insights into why
people become addicted to smoking—often a good starting place
for understanding why they have trouble quitting and helping them
find the key to success.

Learning objectives:

After completing this module you should be able to:

• Recognise the demographics of smokers.
• Discuss the morbidity and mortality attributable to smoking among your patients.
• Understand the science of addiction.
• Recognise the signs of dependence and withdrawal.

Smoking cessation sometimes requires a combination of ongoing
support and pharmacotherapy. In this module, we’ll take a close
look at the main forms of pharmacotherapy available—nicotine
replacement therapy, bupropion, and varenicline.

Learning objectives:

After completing this module you should be able to:

• Describe the indications for using pharmacotherapy in smoking cessation.
• Understand the mechanisms of action of the pharmacological agents used.
• Describe the efficacy of pharmacotherapy in smoking cessation.
• Select appropriate pharmacotherapy for patients wanting to quit.

Practice nurses can play an important role in getting patients started
on the path to quitting. In this module, we’ll look at the benefits of
quitting as well as how nurses can help their patients get started
and advise them on strategies for increasing their chance of success.

Learning objectives:

After completing this module you should be able to:

• Discuss with patients the benefits of quitting smoking in terms of improvements in health and life expectancy
• Recognise the important role that practice nurses play in smoking cessation
• Offer patients tips on how to improve their chances of succeeding
• Help patients cope with withdrawal symptoms.

There are several barriers to the implementation of smoking cessation
interventions, among them the challenges of comorbid mental illness
and/or drug or alcohol addiction among smokers, which we have
discussed briefly in a previous module. Other barriers include the
lack of adequate avenues of compensation for health care
professionals and lack of follow-up.

In this module, we’ll take a look at how to address these barriers
and the role of other health care professionals in the smoking
cessation process.

Learning objectives:

After completing this module you should be able to:

• Address some of the barriers to smoking cessation.
• Advise patients on how to adopt coping strategies to avoid relapses.
• Recognise the role that practice nurses, GPs and community pharmacists can play in smoking cessation.