Innovations in Tobacco Treatment: Tobacco-free Health Care Systems

Faculty

Needs Statement

Secondhand smoke, also known as environmental tobacco smoke or passive smoke, is a mixture of the smoke given off by the burning end of tobacco products and the smoke exhaled by smokers. Approximately 50,000 persons die annually in the United States due to secondhand smoke exposure (Cal EPA, 2005; USDHHS, 2006). Secondhand smoke is associated with at least 46,000 coronary heart disease deaths (California EPA, 2005; NIH, 1999; USDHHS, 2006) and 3,400 lung cancer deaths annually among adult non-smokers in the U.S. (USDHHS, 2006; U.S. EPA, 1992). It is also associated with 430 infant deaths from SIDS and between 24,300 and 71,900 low birth weight or preterm deliveries and about 202,300 cases of childhood asthma (new cases and exacerbations) (USDHHS, 2006)). Secondhand smoke is a major, often fatal, health threat to persons with an existing diagnosis of asthma. It causes headaches, upset stomach, increased heart rate and blood pressure as well as burning of the eyes, nose and throat, and is also associated with numerous other cancers (Cal EPA, 2005;  IARC, 2004; USDHHS, 2006). Even a little exposure to secondhand smoke is dangerous because it alters endothelial function immediately compromising the cardiovascular system (Otsuka et al., 2001).

Target Audience

The initial primary audience for this educational intervention will be nurses, physicians, dentists, pharmacists and other health care providers at the University of Kentucky Medical Center. The secondary audience will be all health care providers from across the state and nation.

Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to:

1. Discuss the elimination of secondhand smoke exposure as a critical component of smoking cessation treatment.
2. Describe the history and current state of smoke-free policy.
3. Discuss the anatomy of secondhand smoke and its impact on air quality and smoking cessation.
4. Relate the health effects of secondhand smoke exposure to specific diseases, quality of life and productivity.
5. Describe populations that are at high risk for exposure to secondhand smoke.
6. Apply clinical interventions to reduce exposure to secondhand smoke as part of an integrated smoking cessation treatment plan.
7. Discuss advocacy skills needed for policy advocacy as an intervention to reduce exposure to secondhand smoke and promote smoking abstinence.

Accreditation

CME
The University of Kentucky College of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The University of Kentucky College of Medicine designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

The University of Kentucky College of Medicine presents this activity for educational purposes only. Participants are expected to utilize their own expertise and judgment while engaged in the practice of medicine. The content of the presentations is provided solely by presenters who have been selected for presentations because of recognized expertise in their field.

Faculty Disclosure

Dr. Hahn received funding from Pfizer to be used for presenting this program. She has no other affiliations.