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smoking cessation and lung cancer
Hi Everyone,
This week I started my respiratory prac on an Oncology Ward. So far I have been surprised at the number of patients who continue to smoke after being diagnosed with lung cancer. I did some research on the internet and found out that quitting cigarette smoking after being diagnosed with lung cancer increases not only your life expectancy but also quality of life by slowing the disease progression. I have tried explaining this to one of my patients, a 70 year old gentlemen, but he states that he has been smoking since 10 years old so “dosn’t see the point in stopping now”. In a way I can see his point because to him it may relax him and trying to quit at his stage may actually decrease his quality of life through the withdrawl symptoms and making him more stressed and anxious. Then again, a stuctured quit program would probably lessen the withdrawls, and the temporary hardship will result in a longer, better quality life. I'm a bit torn as to how far to pursue the issue with him and thought I would put forward the question in regards to what everyone feels a physiotherapist role is in smoking cessation. Do we simply educate the patient on the benefits of quitting and respect their decision or should we be more active and refer them to smoking programs, education sessions etcThanks for your ideas :)Alicia
3 comments:
I think that as healthcare professionals definitely we should encourage people to quit smoking and refer them to appropriate facilities to do so. I think our role extends out to even providing some education on the negative effects of smoking on their general health and then how this affects their performance in physiotherapy. As long as you provide appropriate education and encourage the patient to adopt healthy lifestyle changes there is nothing else you can do to encourage them to quit. Smoking is such an independant lifestyle choice and if even despite education of its ill effects by the media, on packaging and by health care professionals, some people persist to smoke they must deal with the consequences
hi, i think that was a really interesting blog because it is something that you may have to deal with whatever area of physiotherapy you work in. The reason is because as health professionals we have a responsibility to pass on our knowledge of the negative effects of smoking. On the other hand everyone makes their own decisions and we shouldnt let it worry us if people continue to smoke.
Education is a huge part of being a physiotherapist and this topic is where we can really have some input. I think it’s great that you took the time to find some evidence to support what you were saying. Beyond discussing the benefits for quitting smoking, many hospitals have “quit packs” or information brochures that can be given to the patient too. As you’ve all said though it truly has to be a personal decision to quit…I’ve explained everything I know about smoking and quitting to a loved one who smokes and I hassle him about it almost everyday (as do other members of my family) but until he wants to quit for his own personal reasons we’re pretty much just banging our heads against a brick wall!
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