Smoking cessation: guidelines for professionals in helping clients to stop smoking
In 2001 almost 3,000 people in Northern Ireland will die from smoking related disease. The average loss of life expectancy is around 16 years. Around 29% of adults in Northern Ireland currently smoke, and at least 70% of them want to stop. The challenge for the primary care sector is to provide effective support to patients in order to help them stop smoking.

This seminar looked at the issue of smoking cessation and its implications for professionals involved in helping people stop. It introduced a range of innovative techniques that have been successfully used to support smokers who want to give up.

The afternoon session of this seminar was facilitated by Rob Phipps of the Health Promotion Agency, Cathy Pielou of the Eastern Health and Social Services Board, Fiona McConnell of the Northern Health and Social Services Board, Louise Hynes of the Southern Health and Social Services Board, Mark McBride of the Western Health and Social Services Board and Gerry McElwee of the Ulster Cancer Foundation.

Dr Chris Steele facilitated the evening session. Dr Steele has pioneered a series of successful techniques to help clients stop smoking. He is the resident doctor on the popular 'This Morning' television show where he regularly appears to provide medical advice to viewers.

Forty nine delegates attended the seminar from a wide variety of backgrounds including nursing, medicine, education, oral health, health promotion, specialist cardiac medicine and smoking cessation coordination. Some of the key findings from the post-course evaluation highlighted the usefulness of finding out about the variety of projects and work being carried out in Northern Ireland and a better understanding of how programmes are managed and analysed.

When asked what impact this course would have on their work practice, participants' comments included:

• "Finding out what has been happening in other boards will encourage me to possibly use some of their ideas in my area of smoking cessation".
• "Very good information gained about what is happening around the province regarding smoking cessation".
• "Given me contacts to use for further information regarding smoking cessation issues".