BACKGROUND AND IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGES: Tobacco use remains one of the leading preventable causes of morbidity and mortality globally. In Vietnam, 38.9% of adult males smoke, and 49.5% of smokers have planned to quit smoking in the future. However, smoking cessation services in Viet Nam remain limited and mainly at central level. This intervention aims to increase accessibility for patients and integrate smoking cessation services into primary healthcare delivery. It targeted adult smokers, particularly those accessing healthcare services, and operated across the district of Binh Son, including 22 commune health stations, to ensure wide coverage and accessibility.
INTERVENTION OR RESPONSE: The intervention model employed a multi-tiered approach involving healthcare providers, health collaborators, patients, and the community. All healthcare staff received training on tobacco harm prevention and brief advice techniques. A selected group of staff attended advanced training on smoking cessation treatment and received on-the-job training from central-level experts.
Every patient identified as a smoker was offered brief counseling. Those requiring further support were referred to a Smoking Cessation Counseling Room for in-depth guidance, treatment planning, and ongoing follow-up over 12 months. This process was also applied in 22 commune health stations, integrating smoking cessation efforts with campaigns on non-communicable diseases.
RESULTS AND IMPACT: From 2023 to 2024, 1,010 patients received brief counseling, and 242 patients received intensive advice. Among them, 168 individuals successfully quit smoking after 12 months, while 187 individuals quit smoking after 6 months.
CONCLUSIONS: The smoking cessation intervention model at Bình Sơn District Health Center highlights the feasibility of integrating tobacco control into district-level healthcare systems. This model provides valuable insights for scaling up smoking cessation programs in similar rural and resource-limited settings. However, challenges such as limited public engagement and the unavailability of nicotine replacement therapies highlight areas for improvement. Addressing these barriers will be essential for enhancing the effectiveness and sustainability of future programs.