Helping people stop smoking in workplaces: an alternative path

摘要

About 16 million people smoke in France. Those who have decided voluntarily to stop, or those who need to stop for medical reasons are looking for help in one of the 800 smoking cessation medical centres. An alternative way to reach and help smokers is to follow them through specific programs in their workplaces. Initiated by Prof Bertrand Dautzenberg 10 years ago "OFT" and then "OFT Conseil" have been developing different plans to address those smokers where they are working and encourage them to stop. The fact is that many medium and large size companies want their staff to stop smoking to keep people in good health, to protect the image of the company or for any other reason. We are generally commissioned by the Occupational Health Doctors or by Human Resources Managers to intervene. Each year OFT tobaccologists are working in some 75 to 100 companies. OFT and later OFT Conseil have developed a 3 steps programme especially addressed to workplaces. The 3 steps are complementary although not mandatory: 1. Group meeting with smokers to raise awareness of well-being after stopping 2. Individual interview to provide a diagnosis and build up an individual cessation programme 3. A smoking cessation protocol based on 6 to 10 consultations over 6 to 8 months. This plan is financed by the companies and followed only by graduated tobaccologists. The success rate in average is more or less 50% to 60% in the best cases.