123746 - SISTAQUIT (Supporting Indigenous Smokers to Assist Quitting)

Participation in SISTAQUIT (Supporting Indigenous Smokers to Assist Quitting) intervention comprises local face-to-face interactive webinar training in evidenced based, culturally appropriate smoking cessation care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island pregnant women who smoke. It also involves background reading, and pre and post training surveys.

Relevance to General Practice

Tobacco smoking is the most preventable risk factor for chronic lung disease and many other health complications in babies whose mothers smoke. The rate of smoking among pregnant Indigenous women is approximately 4 times that of non-indigenous women (45% vs 12%). Pregnancy is an important window to assist women to quit smoking, however, health providers often lack the skills and confidence to address their patients' smoking. The SISTAQUIT Intervention provides health care providers with the training and resources to provide culturally appropriate smoking cessation care for their pregnant indigenous patients.

Learning outcomes

• Clarify the effects of nicotine on foetus development and the lung capacity of the new born baby.
• Identify culturally appropriate communication strategies to assist in engaging pregnant Aboriginal/Torres Strait Island women who smoke to quit
• Develop a Quit Plan with their pregnant Indigenous patients, supported by the suite of SISTAQUIT resources (eg patient booklet, SISTAQUIT treatment manual)
• Clarify the RACGP Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) guidelines for pregnant women, and how to incorporate these into their ongoing care
• Gain exposure in research methodology, including Good Clinical Practice (GCP)