Tobacco use and smoking can be discouraged with a more
positive approach
These habits
can cause, among other things, heart diseases and eventually death
New Delhi, 06
December 2017: Tobacco use among children and teenagers claims about one
million lives in India, indicate statistics. There is also a huge economic
burden among people due to tobacco use. One of the major causes for continued
tobacco consumption in India is the fact that it is a part of the country’s
social culture. However, a recent study has also indicated that there have been
many benefits due to the large pictorial warnings on product packs, higher
taxes and an intensive awareness campaign against tobacco consumption.
Tobacco use
is associated with many adverse health effects and is a major preventable cause
of morbidity and mortality. As per the CDC, smoking increases the risk of
coronary heart disease by 2 to 4 times, for stroke by 2 to 4 times, lung cancer
by about 25 times. In addition, it reduces quality of life, and increases
health care utilization and cost.
Speaking
about this, Padma Shri Awardee Dr K K Aggarwal, National President Indian
Medical Association (IMA) and President Heart Care Foundation of India (HCFI)
and Dr RN Tandon – Honorary Secretary General IMA in a joint statement,
said, “India has a ‘National Tobacco Control Programme’ in place to make the
public aware about the harmful effects of tobacco use, control tobacco
consumption and minimize the deaths. ‘Smoking kills’ has been the message that
has been conveyed in the campaigns on tobacco control with the expectation that
highlighting the potentially life-threatening health consequences would deter
people from smoking or using tobacco products. It’s time to alter the tone of
such public health campaigns, from negative to positive. Quite often, we may
rebuke a patient for failing in his efforts to quit smoking and say, ‘If you do
not quit, you may die’. A statement worded as this may inadvertently sound
discouraging to the patient. While it is important that people know the dangers
of smoking or using tobacco products, a positive communication approach may
have a more fruitful impact than a critical approach.
Kids start to
smoke before they’re old enough to think about the risks; after starting they
rapidly become addicted to smoking and then regret it later.
Adding
further, Dr Aggarwal, said, “The chances that a patient would adhere to
the lifestyle modifications are higher if communicated in an empathetic and
supportive manner. IMA is committed to working closely with all National Health
Programs alongside the government. As individual doctors, we too can contribute
to the success of National Tobacco Control Program. Counsel your patients who
smoke about quitting smoking but with a difference… Turn a negative situation
to a more positive action.”
Some tips to
help such people cope with and quit the habit are as follows.
- Avoid violent
communication. Do not condemn, criticize and complaint, the 3Cs of violent
communication.
- Use a nonviolent
communication approach to help and support your patient in his efforts to
give up smoking.
- Tell your patient, who is
trying to quit smoking, or other tobacco products, “Thank you for not
smoking”.
- Appreciate the hard work
put in and their perseverance. This way the patient knows that he has your
support and will have trust and faith in you.
