Quitting Smoking
Online Training Programme on Management on Tobacco Dependence
Smoking is harmful to health and is the single most preventable cause of death. Doctors play a critical role in helping patients to quit smoking during their clinical practice.
To facilitate doctors to provide counselling and treatment of nicotine dependence, the Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office (TACO) of the Department of Health has worked with the Mayo Clinic of the United States, which is a renowned institution in providing treatment on tobacco dependence, to provide an online course on management of patients with tobacco dependence.
The online course can normally be completed in 3.5 hours. Doctors can complete the online course according to their own schedule at their convenience.
Various aspects of smoking cessation will be covered including:
(i) Introduction to treatment of nicotine dependence;
(ii) Information of medications for smoking cessation including nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and non-NRT;
(iii) Pharmacology, dosage, treatment regime, side effects and contraindications of NRT and non-NRT;
(iv) Case scenarios demonstrating development of medication plan;
(v) Practical counselling skills including motivational interview skills;
(vi) Case scenarios demonstrating counselling techniques in various circumstances; and
(vii) Strategies for relapse prevention.
An online assessment will be available at the end of the course and an e-certificate will be awarded for those who pass the assessment. CME points for some specialist colleges or for doctors who are not taking CME Programme for Specialists will be accredited to doctors who have completed the whole online course.
Interested doctors can complete the registration form and return to TACO for registration. Staff of TACO and Mayo Clinic will contact the doctors accordingly for arrangement.