Category: Doctor and Tobacco

Role of doctors in controlling tobacco use in self and society

A 77 years old doctor smoker, should he quit now?

Author – Dr. Siddhi Hathiwala. MDS, Public Health Dentistry (2013), CTCS (2020)

During our weekly session of CTCS course for cessation experts, a point was raised about a 77-years old person, doctor by profession and describing himself in good health state in spite of being a chronic smoker for over 40 years. It was discussed that whether or not should this person be encouraged for quitting tobacco.

The scenario was brought up that if one of his friends tries to come up with this suggestion, the very first point that he will put that ‘I am a doctor myself, and all my health reports are perfect. Smoking tobacco has not caused me harm in the way it is presented. Above all, it helps me stay energetic for my clinical practice’. So it is true, as a doctor, he must be perfectly aware that tobacco causes harm to its consumers. Additionally, he must also be knowing that the diagnosis of an impending cancer can be very abrupt and alarming situation.

The point he must not have thought about is being a respectable social figure himself, he is presenting a wrong attitude before the society, especially the young generation. The young folks around him would look at him and consider that ‘smoking is super essential for having a successful long career’ or that ‘tobacco does not kill’. His patients must see him having discoloured teeth, and think ‘if my doctor smokes I too can continue my habit without harm.’

So, it is highly recommended that this aged doctor should participate in a tobacco cessation program and put up his best efforts to discontinue tobacco usage. It does not actually matter here if he is able to successfully quit or not, because in both ways he will become a ‘Role Model’ for a large number of people.

Firstly, it highlights the fact that attempt to quit is important. It can be any age, any duration, any form of tobacco. The harm caused by tobacco products includes strong addiction. If one stays away from them as low as 72 hours, they can overcome addiction and withdrawal symptoms to a large extent. The benefits of quitting start appearing and continue over the time. So, ‘Quitting brings Better Health – Each day, Each year’.

Secondly, if he fails, he can be an example for youngsters for the difficulties faced during quit process. De-addiction is a long process, which is full of ups and downs for the patient. It takes a strong commitment and hard work; and so many people face failure. The addiction caused by tobacco products makes it difficult for even a doctor to quit, leave apart any layman. So, it is the best practice for all to stay away from these products. So, ‘Be Smart, Do Not Start’.

An ICanCaRe-certified tobacco cessation specialist follows the ABCD Of tobacco cessation for a 100% quit rate.

Book appointment to start a healthy tobacco/smoke-free life with the best in class tobacco/smoking cessation experts at www.icancare.in/quittobacco or call 011-430-77695 for help. Download the ICanCaRe e-cessation app for quitting smoking and tobacco at https://app.icancare.in. 

St. John’s Hospital, Bengaluru Inaugurates Tobacco Cessation Centre

St. John’s Hospital, Bengaluru Inaugurates Tobacco Cessation Centre

ICanCaRe Academy congratulates Dr. Pradeep Johnson for starting of Tobacco Cessation center at St. John’s Hospital, Bengaluru.

Dr. Pradeep a senior Psychiatrist inspired by ICanCaRe SAVE the youth campaign skilled up a CERTIFIED TOBACCO CESSATION SPECIALIST course accredited by Gujarat University conducted by ICanCaRe in November 2020.

Tobacco Cessation centers are essential to assist people desirous of quitting tobacco and are needed in every place. Starting of a TCC at St. Johns is an important milestone and the beginning of the acceptability of large hospitals that such a center is required for a holistic treatment of patients.

ICanCaRe as part of SAVE the youth campaign capacity building trains doctors as CTCS and hand holds them to establish TCC centers powered by the ICanCaRe digital APP for a standardized intervention protocol for reproducible results across all centers.

Team ICanCaRe

www.icancare.in/academy

011-43077695

Dr. Pawan Gupta M.Ch. Cancer Surgeon

Convenor – Tobacco Cessation Certified Courses accredited by Gujarat University

Doctors Recognize the Need of A Specialist To Quit Tobacco

When they started, they were unaware of the consequences. Now that they are trapped feel the heat and wish to be free. Doctors are the intellects of society. They have different positions in society. But a doctor who is a tobacco user is no more acceptable in society.

For a doctor who is a smoker or chewer the situation is:
– People look at him with disbelief
– The doctor tends to lose credibility and respect with the patients and in society
– Justification to continue to smoke or chew tobacco is not valid
– Family and children suffer because of your habit directly and indirectly.

Tobacco is no more socially acceptable behavior and least expected of a doctor.
Tobacco is the most addictive substance and when it comes to tobacco whosoever is immaterial, whether one is a doctor, one is on the knees begging, stealing, telling lies. You are a changed personality.
The journey of quitting for a doctor is difficult and unique because of the many self-created hurdles
– “I know all”
– “I can quit whenever I want”
– “I have a strong will power”
– “I take occasionally, it will not harm me”

Failures of quitting lead to frustration, justification, and accepting the consequences. This is the worst thing to happen.

It is possible to quit and stay quit, what the doctor needs are
– Recognize the fact that tobacco is a disease
– You are as much prone as anyone else – the degree does not grant you immunity from being affected
– Recognize the fact that you need help
– Please do not take help from quacks
– A specialist may be a highly recognized doctor but that is of his specialty but when it comes to tobacco intervention, he may be a quack until unless certified for the purpose in this.
– Tobacco Cessation intervention is a specialist job.

So “BE SMART DO NOT START” and for those who have started earlier, you quit the better. Do not hesitate to take the help of a Certified Tobacco Cessation Specialist. Quitting Tobacco is easy but staying quit is difficult! The specialist would give you support, medication, comorbidity management, follow up and continued motivation to prevent relapse during your journey.

Tobacco is a complex endemic disease. It is well recognized and now diagnostic methodology, specific medicines, and counseling processes are available to treat this disease. The book WIN OVER TOBACCO MADE EASY authored by Dr. Pawan Gupta is a comprehensive guide for those willing to quit and also for doctors. It is the moral responsibility of all doctors to take training to understand the intricacies of the disease and advice the patient in an evidence-based method for tobacco quit to be successful.

ICanCaRe Tobacco Wellness center is coming up at various Hospitals for helping tobacco patients in distress.

By Dr. Pawan Gupta M.Ch., FAIS, FSOG
Director HN, MAX Super Speciality Hospital, Vaishali;
Chief Medical Advisor – ICanCaRe (www.icancare.in)
National Convenor – Certified Tobacco Cessation Courses
drpawan.oncosurgeon@gmail.com
9811290152

(The Author – Dr. Pawan Gupta M.Ch. is Director of Surgical Oncology at Max Super Speciality Hospital, Vaishali. Patparganj and Noida. He is the author of the book – Win Over Tobacco Made Easy, Be Smart Do Not Start and is highly recognized for his work on Oral Cancer and Tobacco Cessation. He is the convenor for Certified Course in Tobacco Cessation under the Gujarat University)