Health care professionals are gathering at the Best Western Inn on the Bay in Owen Sound on Friday.
The Registered Nurses Association of Ontario is teaming up with the Grey-Bruce Health Unit to host a workshop today on quitting smoking.
Public Health Nurse Beth Karrow says it’s important for health care professionals to know how to assist or approach a patient who is thinking about smoking.
Karrow says they have a full schedule, and over 50 professionals attending the workshop.
She says statistics show one in 40 individuals who are using tobacco will quit on the advice of a doctor or other health care professional.
She says that’s even if the professional spends just a few minutes talking to them about quitting and their options.
Beyond that, Karrow says 60 per cent of smokers are interested in quitting, but not all of them bring it up with their doctor.
She says if a doctor knows how to ask, they can be instrumental in developing a quit program.
Karrow says smoking is one of the hardest habits to kick because nicotine is so addictive, and the body actually experiences significant withdrawal symptoms when they make a quit attempt.
She says that’s the biggest challenge for smokers to work through.
There is also workshop for students in health-care related subjects on Saturday.
Both workshops run from 9 AM until 4:30 PM.
