Mayday to quit smoking

South Australian smokers are once again planning to put away their cigarettes for the third annual ‘Quit your way in May’ campaign.

‘Quit your way in May’ is a quit smoking event that emphasises the importance of smokers quitting their own way. It establishes the 1 May quit date, provides platforms for participants to quit alongside other community members, and celebrates their quit smoking attempts with lots of encouragement.

The 2022 ‘Quit your way in May’ campaign achieved 1,323 registrations (155 more than in 2021) and 13,000 visits to the Quit your way in May website, indicating a large amount of interest surrounding the event and in quitting smoking. Of participants surveyed one month after the 2022 event, 78% had remained smoke free.

Research indicates patients who seek support from health professionals can more than double their likelihood of quitting smoking.

Quit Centre is a national online information bank developed by and for health professionals, with resources targeted to health professionals working in settings including general practice, pharmacy, primary care nursing, pregnancy, and maternity health. The resources provide health professionals with the most up to date information on smoking cessation, including practical guides, smoking cessation training, links to clinical guidelines, NRT (nicotine replacement therapy) videos and referral forms for Quitline. It also provides information for clinicians and other health practitioners to develop the skills, awareness, and confidence to deliver routine smoking cessation care.

It points to quitting tools such as the My QuitBuddy app, and distraction techniques to assist quitters to combat their cravings and withdrawal symptoms.

A brief discussion with a patient about their smoking can be fast, simple, and effective. Quit Centre encourage health professionals to Ask, Advise, Help (AAH):

• Ask - ask and document smoking status

• Advise - at every opportunity advise the patient to quit and provide the most effective way to try

• Help - by offering a referral to Quitline for multi-session behavioural counselling and by facilitating access to clinically appropriate pharmacotherapy. A small change every day can add up to a lifetime of difference when it comes to quitting smoking. Every conversation from a trusted health professional to a patient can make a world of difference in a person’s motivation to quit, so every conversation about the benefits to quit smoking is valuable.

In 2023, the ‘Quit your way in May’ advertisement with animated buddies will be back, demonstrating different distraction techniques. For example, Sporty Sarah says, ‘If you need a distraction, crank up the action’. Participants in 2022 said they identified with the characters and were able to come up with their own distraction strategies. For example, one participant, Chris said, ‘The cravings are a pain today, time to go and sort out the shed’.

AMA(SA) is again partnering with SA Health to support the event. Clinicians can help the ‘Quit your way in May’ event by supporting smokers to quit and encouraging them to register at quityourwayinmay.com.au

Free online training for health professionals to assist smokers to quit is available at www.quit.org.au/resources/ quit-education/quit-training/

2022 ‘Quit your way in May’ facts and stats

• In 2022, surveyed participants rated ‘Quit your way in May’ 8/10 for usefulness.

• More than 90% of participants surveyed would recommend ‘Quit your way in May’ to a friend.

• Two thirds of participants were female.

• Most were in the 46-55 age group.

• 22% were from regional South Australia (6% decrease from 2021).

• Of those surveyed: o 50% stopped smoking by going ‘cold turkey’ o 34% used nicotine replacement therapy o 22% sought help from a doctor or health professional o 10% used quit smoking medication.