| SAF
Smoking Cessation Programme |
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| A
smokerlyser is used to detect
if a serviceman has reduced smoking. |
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The Singapore
Armed Forces
(SAF) ensures that all servicemen
who smoke go through a comprehensive process where they receive health education,
counselling and supervision throughout the entire duration of their active service.
This is to continually motivate them to quit smoking.
The SAF Smoking Control Programme consists of three main components:
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identification of smokers |
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supervision and counselling
(including referral to the Smoking Cessation Clinic) |
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health education |
Pre-enlistment
medical review
During the medical check-up, the medical officer enquires about the smoking
habits of all pre-enlistees and records this in
the servicemen’s electronic medical record (PACES).
Interviews
by supervisor
All servicemen are interviewed by their supervisor every three months.
During the interviews, the supervisor has to ascertain the smoking status of
all the servicemen under his charge.
The supervisor provides every identified smoker with a Smoker Interview Card,
which is kept in the serviceman’s interview booklet.
The supervisor also educates the servicemen on the adverse health effects of
smoking and encourages him to attend the Smoking Cessation Clinic.
Smoking
Cessation Clinic and para-counsellors
The Smoking Cessation Clinic was introduced as a trial in June 2003. Attendance
is strictly voluntary. Unit commanders and medical officers have been asked to
actively encourage smokers to attend the sessions.
Dedicated para-counsellors give the servicemen who attend the Smoking Cessation
Clinic personalised attention and advice on how to stop smoking. There is regular
follow-up and the smokers are encouraged to gradually cut down and eventually
quit smoking.
Nicotine
Replacement Therapy
Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) is generally safe and has been shown
to significantly improve cessation rates. Nicotinell patches may be recommended
by SAF para-counsellors to smokers with high nicotine dependence. These patches
help smokers who use them after quitting smoking to reduce their withdrawal symptoms.
If NRT is recommended by the para-counsellors and the officer agrees
to going
on it, the medical officer will interview the officer before prescribing it.
Positive
results
The results of SAF’s Smoking Cessation Programme are comparable
with studies from the US that show an average success rate of about 8% to 10%
without NRT.
For long-term success, personal motivation is extremely important. With encouragement
and motivation from commanders, doctors and peers, our servicemen who smoke can
kick the habit. |
