From February 14 to March 13, 2022, Public Health France, in partnership with the Ministry of Solidarity and Health and Health Insurance, is launching a campaign to encourage people to quit smoking aimed at smokers and in particular the public. more vulnerable socio-economically. The goal? Deconstruct the prejudices linked to quitting smoking and encourage smokers to be accompanied by a health professional or via the Tobacco info service platform.
Smoking, an addiction that affects millions of people, at the heart of social inequalities
France has nearly 15 million daily and occasional smokers. The latest estimates of smoking prevalence in 2020 highlight a 3-point increase in smoking among smokers with the lowest incomes, rising from 30% in 2019 to 33% in 2020. Social inequalities in smoking are very marked, with a 15-point difference in prevalence in tobacco between the third of the population with the lowest incomes and the third with the highest incomes1. The most disadvantaged smokers want to quit as much as the more advantaged smokers, but they find it more difficult and their chances of quitting are lower.2.
The objective of the campaign launched in mid-February is therefore to better target preventive actions to counter the rebound in smoking observed for these specific groups, especially since tobacco consumption remains the leading cause of avoidable mortality in France with over 75,000 estimated deaths in 20153.
A dedicated campaign that promotes the diversity of solutions to end smoking
This new awareness campaign highlights, through four testimonials former smokers, the variety of solutions offered to quit smoking. It shows that it is possible to ask for help from a health professional – nurse, doctor, pharmacist or a Tobacco info service professional on 39 89, and to be accompanied in the process. Beyond the health benefits, the campaign insists on the financial benefits and in terms of quality of life.
A communication kit that can be easily deployed within establishments, health practices, companies and organizations has been specially created to raise awareness of this theme as many people as possible (links below).
The role of nurses in the prevention of public health and tobacco issues
All salaried or self-employed nurses can, since the health system modernization law of January 26, 2016, prescribe nicotine substitutes. They also have the possibility of training in smoking cessation (short online training courses such as Moocs, continuing education -Inter-University Diploma-).
Nurses with degrees in addiction medicine and smoking cessation, who are more and more numerous, also play a central role in hospitals and specialized clinics. They develop specific skills such as the motivational approach and brief intervention to inform, prevent and support patients in smoking cessation.
The National Order of Nurses has long supported the month without tobacco and reaffirms on the occasion of this campaign the commitment of nurses in the fight once morest smoking.
1 Source: Tobacco consumption among adults in 2020: results of the Public Health France barometer, telephone survey on a random sample of the adult population residing in metropolitan France, conducted between January and March, then between June and July 2020, with a total sample of 14,873 individuals.
2 Source https://www.cairn.info/journal-sante-publique-2018-1-page-45.htm
3 Source: Bonaldi C, Boussac, M, Nguyen-Thanh V. Estimated number of deaths attributable to smoking, in France from 2000 to 2015, Weekly Epidemiological Bulletin 2019
References :
- Prevention campaign kit:
