Starting a tobacco cessation program

4 key elements for success

On a national level, smokers account for $278 billion a year in healthcare spending.

Determine the need for tobacco cessation in your population by answering questions like "How many employees smoke?”, and “how much are we spending on healthcare as a result?“

Smoking is responsible for 87% of lung cancer deaths, 32% of heart disease deaths and 79% of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) cases. 

Smoking also has been linked to strokes, liver and colorectal cancers and multiple other chronic, debilitating diseases.

According to the CDC, we need more effective smoking cessation programs:

• 65.2% of smoking employees were interested in quitting last year

• 53.8% attempted to quit• Only 6.8% successfully quit

What makes an effective program?

4 key elements:

1.) Provide meaningful incentives

Financial incentives motivate employees to take the next step in quitting tobacco. In one study, incentivized participants had:• 10% higher rates of program enrollment • 8.3% higher rates of program completion• 9.1% higher rates of staying tobacco free after

completion

2.) Design a customized program

Programs should take into account industry trends, and the work factors that are associated with increased levels of smoking: employment status, type of employment, work intensity, age employee began work and increased weekly hours worked.

3.) Create a strong program structure

A structured program allows participants to address tobacco cessation from all angles. A one-on-one behavioral counseling approach where an individual’s readiness to change is addressed has been proven to be the most effective.

4.) Make sure to follow up

Follow up with participants to see where they are having success or confronting roadblocks. This will not only improve their health and motivation, but will also assist in building a stronger program each year.

Healthgram administers one-on-one tobacco cessation programs through our trained Health Coaches.

To see how our eight week telephonic program can help your population, visit us at www.healthgram.com