Why chiropract ors should care if t heir pat ient s sm oke or use t obacco

Claire Johnson, PHC Chair

Chiropractors perform an important role as primary contact health care providers. They have the opportunity to support and promote healthy behaviors for prevention and cessation of tobacco and nicotine product use for their patients and to advocate for public health efforts in their communities The World Federation of Chiropractic has supported the World Health Organization?s efforts against the deadly and harmful effects of tobacco and nicotine for over two decades. It has recently affirmed a new position statement on tobacco and nicotine use www.wfc.org/posn tobacco

Here are five reasons why chiropractors should care about patients using tobacco:

1. Public healt h im port ance. Tobacco use is one of the biggest preventable causes of death in the world It is estimated that 5 4 million people each year die from the effects of tobacco use

Non-users are also exposed through secondhand smoke or tobacco product residue And, harms from vaping and e-cigarettes are resulting in additional warnings and bans

2 Significance for chiropract ic pat ient s People with back pain seek out chiropractors for preventive care, palliative care, and advice In addition to general health issues, there is evidence that there is an association between smoking and back pain and that smoking has a negative effect on spinal health

3 Congruency w it h chiropract ic principles

Concern with tobacco use fits within the chiropractic principles that include drug-free approach to life and health promotion

Chiropractors should educate patients who smoke and those who may be considering smoking, such as children and teens, about the negative influence that smoking has on health.

4. Dut y as prim ary healt h care pract it ioners. Our duty as chiropractors includes educating our patients about the harmful effects of smoking and tobacco use We can use the clinical encounter as an opportunity to educate patients about the negative effects of smoking on spinal health and the benefits of quitting

5. Enhancing doct or/ pat ient relat ionship. Chiropractors have a responsibility to educate patients about the dangers of tobacco and smoking and to connect them with smoking cessation programs When patients hear a message from multiple sources, including chiropractors, they are more likely to take positive action, which benefits their health and the health of the public

The WFCPublic Health Committee encourages all chiropractors to use WHO resources and to share the quitting toolkit with patients