Health commission app helping smokers to quit
A DIGITAL way to help people quit smoking is proving effective, according to the Health Improvement Commission, as Guernsey today marks National No Smoking Day.
The app, QuitGenius, was developed by the Health Improvement Commission and Quitline and has seen positive feedback in helping islanders quit smoking.
‘National No Smoking Day is a great opportunity to remind the Bailiwick of the options available to help them stop smoking,’ said Grace Lindsay, tobacco harm reduction officer at the commission.
The overall smoking prevalence in Guernsey adults is 31% – 21% of whom are aged between 25 and 36.
According to a local survey from 2018, 36% of adults who smoke currently intend to quit.
‘We know that people who smoke are likely to want to quit, so we want to be able to offer the most effective way for them to be able to do that,’ said Miss Lindsay.
‘The uptake so far has been good and we’ve received positive feedback already and people who have been successful in using it have managed to quit smoking.’
QuitGenius provides users a CO2 monitor, an adapter to fit their model of smartphone and nicotine replacement therapy which will be agreed with their coach.
‘Having a coach in people’s pockets will really add another string to the bow at Quitline,’ Quitline manager Andrea Tostevin.
‘Quitline will continue to offer professional, nurse-led, local support, as this is known to work very well – the QuitGenius app is another tool in our box and increases the options for people to access support in our community.’
HIC identifies how it can create environments that empower, enable and encourage healthy living.
‘If a social norm is smoking, children are three times more likely to smoke if they grow up with an adult who smokes in their household because it is a social norm and is accepted,’ said Miss Lindsay.
‘We try to look how we can encourage more smoke-free spaces so smoke-free becomes the new norm.’
The HIC is trying to raise awareness of the lack of legislation in the island on smoking in a car with a young person present.
‘Currently in Guernsey we don’t have any legislation around adults smoking in a car with someone who is under the age of 18, whereas there was legislation made in England and Wales in October 2015 and Northern Ireland in February this year,’ said Miss Lindsay.
‘That’s something we’d definitely like to see because Guernsey is on the back foot.’
n Islanders can register for QuitGenius at https://my.quitgenius.com/healthimprovementcommission.
