Tobacco Control Requires Complex Approach

In the framework of the Women against Smoking program conducted a Workshop to discuss efficient tobacco control measures, advances in screening for tobacco use, and training medical providers in effective counseling for smoking cessation.

The Workshop was attended by MOSHD, Rospotrebnadzor, Roszdravnadzor representatives and regional healthcare authorities. At her welcoming speech, IFH Director General Natalia Vartapetova identified tobacco-control activity as one of IFH’s priorities: “IFH is strongly supportive of the national anti-smoking policy. To strengthen the governmental measures, IFH elaborates respective recommendations, conducts trainings, develops and publishes methodological and public awareness materials. IFH has a long history of tobacco-control activities which contributes to the program.”

Photo: Nicolay Briko, Chief Epidemiologist, MOSHD; Larissa Dementyeva, Deputy Head, Epidemiologic Surveillance Department, Rospotrebnadzor; Anna Karpushkina, Deputy Director, IFH; Natalia Vartapetova, Director General, IFH; Alexander Goliusov, Deputy Director, Health and Sanitary-Epidemiological Welfare Department, MOHSD; Vladimir Pidzamkiv, Head Doctor, Surgut Center for Prevention

IFH Deputy Director Anna Karpushkina presented the Women against Smoking program to the Workshop participants and spoke about its experience and resources. Her presentation was focused at training medical providers in effective counseling for smoking prevention and cessation. She also emphasized the importance of including screening for tobacco use in primary and specialized medical care standards and using pharmacological treatment for tobacco dependence. The presentation contained results of evidence-based research on efficacy and tolerability of modern medication for tobacco dependence and tobacco abstinence symptoms.

Chief MOHSD Epidemiologist, Head of Epidemiology and Evidence-Based Medicine Department at the First Moscow State Medical University Nicolay Briko stressed the importance of anti-tobacco measures among healthcare providers and the necessity for disseminating the Women against Smoking results through medical press. Head of Surgut Center for Preventive Medicine Vladimir Pidzamkiv made the audience acquainted with the preliminary outcomes of surveying medical providers and clients on tobacco-free environment prospects in Surgut health facilities. First Deputy Director of Tyumen Region Health Department Natalia Brynza presented the anti-smoking experience of Tyumen Region health facilities and gave credit to complex approach to smoking issue.

In a hot debate the representatives of Kemerovo, Kurgan and Tomsk regions showed their interest in disseminating IFH experience in their regions. All participants were provided with informational and methodological materials, booklets and posters developed under the Women against Smoking program.

ABOUT WOMEN AGAINST SMOKING PROGRAM. The Women against Smoking program is implemented by IFH jointly with KHMAO Health Department. This WHO FCTC-based program utilizes best Russian and international practices. It is aimed to improve the knowledge and skills of medical providers in effective counseling to prevent smoking and assist in smoking cessation, and to inform women about the negative impact of tobacco use and available treatment options.

Back