Jason R. McConnery, BSc, MD, FRCPC
Grand River Hospital, Kitchener, ON

The negative impact of tobacco smoking on chronic and acute respiratory conditions has long been known. Most practitioners put an emphasis on facilitating smoking cessation for their patients; however, due to the impact of second-hand and third-hand smoke, it is also important to encourage caregivers to quit. The importance of taking an active role in tobacco cessation as respiratory professionals has never been more crucial due to the stable plateau in smoking rates and rising vaping rates in the Canadian population. This session will provide respiratory health professionals with an active approach to caregiver smoking cessation, considering the latest guidelines and various regulatory environments across Canada.

Learning Objectives
At the end of this presentation, attendees will be able to:

  • Describe the evidence behind current smoking cessation guidelines for adults who smoke and how they may be applied to simplify your workflow;
  • Employ an active approach to smoking cessation for caregivers of patients with chronic and acute respiratory conditions; and
  • Debate the responsibility of respiratory professionals to provide smoking cessation care to their patients’ caregivers.

CanMEDS Roles Addressed: Collaborator, Health Advocate, Leader, Medical Expert, Scholar