New Year’s resolutions are a fantastic way of reflecting over the past year to see what we’ve done well and what we haven’t done so well. Individuals can identify areas for growth and self-improvement and can set resolutions for the coming year that could be health related. As a healthcare community, we can encourage better health habits for our patients to improve wellbeing, cut down on alcohol consumption or quitting smoking.
Nicotine cessation resources are essential in helping your patients quit nicotine, but in addition social determinants of health (SDOH) and health related disparities need to be taken into consideration for success.
People living in poverty and adults with lower levels of education smoke cigarettes at a higher rate than the general population. There is often a higher density of tobacco retailers located in low-socioeconomic areas, low-income African American communities and communities with more LGBTQ couples. All of these communities experience higher rates of tobacco use and tobacco-related health disparities.
In addition, when looking at the medical costs of smoking in the United States, adults from some racial and ethnic populations benefit substantially more than others from tobacco control policies as this article by Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) explains: First-of-its-Kind Study Examines Disparities in Healthcare Costs and Outcomes of Cigarette Smoking in the United States
“Disparities in medical spending, as well as adverse health outcomes, are continuing to increase over time,” said AHRQ co-author Dr. William Encinosa. “AHRQ’s results indicate that racial and ethnic populations benefit substantially from tobacco control policies, such as tobacco product regulations.”
Ready to Quit? If you, a patient or a family member are thinking about quitting smoking and would like help, a quitline might be just what you need to succeed. Quitlines provide free coaching – over the phone – to help individuals quit smoking. Quitlines provide many of the services and similar support offered in a stop-smoking class and can be a valuable complement to your care. Both North Dakota and South Dakota have quitlines for those seeking assistance to quit smoking or using smokeless tobacco products, including vapes or electronic cigarettes.
- North Dakota: NDQuits
- South Dakota: SD Quitline
Great Plains QIN has a suite of tools in our Chronic Disease Management Initiative (tobacco prevention page) to help with nicotine addiction.
- Break the Chain of Tobacco/Nicotine Dependence Change Package
- Reduce Smoking and Improve Pain Management