Conversations with community service organisations about smoking: what we heard TasCOSS collaborated with community service organisations (CSOs) to explore and understand the enablers and barriers for supporting people to quit smoking. These conversations focused on both CSO staff and people who use CSO services. The following is a summary of the main ideas and opinions we heard during these conversations.
Who did we talk to? TasCOSS collaborated with CSO staff through: • • • • •
18 formal interviews or focus groups 47 informal conversations 1 feedback workshop with 8 participants 48 surveys completed 76 invitations to participate
• regular meetings with a Steering Group of people from CSOs and peak bodies to guide the project.
Why did we talk to CSOs? We build long term trusting relationships with people who use our services, providing a safe space to have quit smoking conversations.
What did we talk about? What helps (enablers) and what gets in the way (barriers) of supporting people to quit smoking smoking? What is our role as CSOs?
What you told us is happening now CSOs have different cultures and capacities to have quit smoking conversations.
Why aren’t we talking? • Talking about smoking is not seen as a priority • Intake forms don’t ask about smoking • Lack of staff confidence, education and training • Need for improved health literacy of CSOs and clients
What is helping? • Ongoing trust between staff and people who use services • Quick and easy access to free, combination nicotine replacement therapy • Incentivising quit programs • Supporting workers to have quit smoking conversations • Providing education about smoking and quit smoking resources
What is making it hard? • Trauma experiences and other life issues • Smoking is an addiction and it is hard to quit • Some CSOs have a ‘smoking culture’ • It is difficult to access health care professionals and nicotine replacement therapy • High cost of nicotine replacement therapy
Why are we talking about smoking?
What else?
To understand the current and potential role of CSOs in supporting people to quit smoking.
• It is harder to have quit smoking conversations when people are accessing crisis care and easier during longer term relationships
• Acknowledging CSOs need resources and staffing
• Recognising some funding agreements limit taking a holistic approach to service delivery
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