Supporting smoking cessation in older patients: a continuing challenge for community nurses

Abstract

Tobacco smoking continues to pose negative health consequences for smokers and their families and is the single greatest cause of health inequalities in the UK. Older people are particularly vulnerable to the negative health impacts of smoking and therefore, supporting older smokers to quit remains an important public health goal. Community nurses are required to help patients to lead healthier lifestyles and have ideal opportunities to encourage smoking cessation in older people who are affected by smoking-related health conditions, or whose existing conditions may be exacerbated by continued smoking. This paper discusses how community nurses can support their older patients to quit smoking by fostering a patient-centred partnership through good communication and empathy. The newly de eloped Ve B ief Ad i e o " oki g VBA i te e tio s can provide a useful tool for community nurses who experience time constraints to advise older people that psychosocial support with treatment is the most effective method of smoking cessation, whilst respecting the health decisions of patients. INTRODUCTIONTobacco smoking continues to be the single greatest cause of preventable illness and cause of inequalities in death rates between the richest and the poorest groups of people in the UK (Public Health England, 2015). Smoking-related illnesses pose enormous financial burdens to the NHS and the wider society, which are estimated at £2.7 billion and £13.74 billion respectively (Department of Health (DH), 2011). Helping people to quit smoking is one of the si ke st a ds of Go e e t a tio outli ed i the Depa t e t of Health s Tobacco Control Plan for England.Although the average smoking prevalence in the UK continues to fall, an estimated 19% of people in Great Britain continue to smoke equating to 9.6 million individuals, of which 11% 2 are aged 60 years and over (Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), 2016). As the proportion of the population aged 65 years and over is projected to rise to 23% by the year 2035 (Office for National Statistics, 2012) and there is a continuing rise in chronic diseases attributed to unhealthy lifestyles, the public health sphere is placing an increasing focus on the importance of responding to the health needs of older people within community settings (DH, 2013). This paper aims to discuss the importance of smoking cessation to the health of the older person and provide guidance for community nurses who are supporting their patients to quit. It argues that community nurses play a vital role in supporting older people to make successful attempts to quit smoking, through developing effective, patient-centred partnerships. SMOKING AND THE HEALTH OF THE OLDER PERSONThere is a wealth of evidence detailing the negative health consequences of tobacco smoking for older smokers and non-smoking family members through exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS). Tobacco smoking contains more than 7,000 chemicals, many of which are associated with negative health consequences for most of the organ systems within the b...

The State of the Evidence about the Family and Community Nurse: A Systematic Review

“…The recent literature has shown that FCNs utilise their advanced skills and competencies in health promotion, focusing on primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention. To ensure a higher level of professional intervention in healthcare promotion, FCNs must collaborate and become a strategic bridge for linking the competencies of different health care providers, guiding them to answer the healthcare needs of patients, families and communities [ 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 ].…”

“…The literature shows that PHC is the main area where FCNs feel better represented in their key role. FCNs are mainly engaged in promoting oral care and stopping smoking [ 35 , 44 , 49 , 53 , 54 ], providing education for correct blood pressure measurements, and preventing cerebrovascular events [ 46 , 55 ]. Furthermore, the FCN’s engagement is directed to correct oral intake, especially in the elderly, to prevent diseases related to malnutrition and chronic diseases [ 14 , 53 , 54 ], such as cancer [ 56 ]; to reduce antibiotic resistance [ 45 ] through the FCN as prescriber [ 39 ]; and to reduce elderly abuse [ 57 ].…”

Cognitive, behavioural and psychosocial factors associated with successful and maintained quit smoking status among patients who received smoking cessation intervention with nurses’ counselling

“…), adults (Zwar et al . ) and older people (Phillips ). Also, nurses have provided counselling for smoking cessation by various modes of communication such as telephone counselling (McGrath et al .…”

Prevalence and factors associated with alcohol and tobacco use among non-institutionalized elderly persons

“…There are currently a number of pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies to aid with quitting smoking, which may also be an alternative for the elderly 27,28 . No studies have been identified to date on the need for smoking groups exclusive to the elderly, but the participation of this population in quit smoking programs together with other age groups has been suggested, in order to favor the dynamics and the enrichment of the thematic repertoire and allow intergenerational relationships.…”