January 13, 2009
Minutes from Durham Smoking Cessation Network Meeting
Attendees:
Stephanie Skopyk- RN, Public Health
Jane Ling, Pharmacist, Lovell Drugs
Sandra Schmidt, RN, Public Health
Shelley McKinney- director of Pharmacy at Lakeridge Health
Willa Navarro, pharmacist, Lovell Drugs Oshawa
Dr. Jack Cottrell, Dentist, Port Perry
Dr J Stewart, GP, Port Perry
Glenda Clapham, Pfizer Specialty Representative
Tracey Poxon, Pfizer Representative
Absent: Dr Tahiliani, Cardiologist, Dr Jessy Bhatia, GP
Defined Mandate:
"to bring together advocates representing a wide variety HCPs from throughout the Durham region to
share best practices and minimize duplication of efforts by working together to ensure all local
resources (information, smoking cessation counseling programs) are available to every HCP
providing smoking cessation support to patients/clients. We also agreed we must provide a strong
unified voice to support non-smoking efforts at a public information level, across the Durham region".
Existing projects:

Jane Ling- presented to Glazier Clinic physicians on Smoking Cessation on Nov 26: Docs
now write prescription. that says “see Jane for SC”

Belleville- Accredited program through Pfizer to pharmacists who would like to be
certified for CTI presented by Jane Ling
 Durham Region Pharmacist Assoc- April program-Jane Ling; 3 Minute Empowerment
planned for pharmacists
 Public Health will present MCI (Minimal Contact Intervention) to Whitby Mental Health on
January 28

Pfizer bridging opportunities for Public Health to discuss their resources and support- ie
Sandy Schmidt will present to physicians at several educational events in Feb and March

Heide Kraus, Oshawa Clinic pharmacist -presented to Oshawa Clinic docs on December
15 re: the pharmacies SC strategies, and support systems available; Sandy Schmidt, Public
Health discussed their resources following the presentation

We welcomed Stephanie Skopyk, RN to the group- her Public Health role focuses on
counseling; Stephanie has recently met with Shelley Davy, Lakeridge Health, Occupational
Health and Wellness at Lakeridge- to look at staff SC, then patient initiatives

Dr Stewart: Group Counseling Sessions in Port Perry -more intensive counseling: last
night first session- aiming at 6 people- 4 attended last night, 6 confirmed for next Monday;
then in 6 weeks there will be 2 more sessions: last night- introductions, social discussion,
round table discussion- why individuals started, etc- proceeded through various disease
states, supports systems out there, exercise, pattern changes; plasma screen- hyperlinks- to
government of Canada website and cancer society website; he continued to discuss: $2.50
per pack in Curve Lake; 5 years smoking at $9 per pack: they could buy a new house;
patients looking at behaviour changes; referred to Cancer society website- “mileage”- how
many days without cigarettes, how much money have I saved so far, how much have I
added to my life. Session: $20 per person per night; $10 for first night discount- want
people who are going to commit; you have committed people, creates a contract- puts
added pressure on Dr Stewart to give them something of quality; -session time- almost 2
hours -next –he will advertise with his partner; size- no more than 12, but too big at 20- not
personal enough; long term to look at this as a model for Smoking Cessation;
Questionnaire- for 2 year follow up data- to measure to see if there is success

Dr Stewart: website- Dr Stewart is working on establishing a local website which
will focus on diabetes, heart disease, smoking cessation- working with Dr. Nasser-Shariff,
Internist, Port Perry; some info on line and some group education;
Simplistic info with link to other resources
10. Public Health
- offers 6 week sessions- 1 and a half hours each time with an RN- 8 to 16 people in a
session; free, provided by Health Dept- run 3 times per year;
-also monthly 1 hour sessions; (done at Whitby Mental Health); will come into motivated
clinics- will do in workplaces now too, also did UOIT; 1 hour sessions more successful in
workplace because not so personal; For GP doing counseling- perceived power of GP, but
also negative of burnout of GP advice “lose weight, stop smoking, take your blood pressure
pills, etc,…”
.
11. Dr. Jack Cottrell, Dentist, Advocate for Smoking Cessation- Dr Stewart spoke for their
staff in Port Perry on January 7- he believes in empowering his staff to participate in
treatment; Dr Cottrell does a continuing education program for his staff; large segment of
the community comes into his dental office on a regular basis- his team works very closely
with patients- the opportunity for consistent messaging works very well; very grateful for
support- can have important role for referral;
often dentist has very high level of interaction with patient who smokes re: cleaning etc;
empower staff- topic, premise of the night was “how to help patients” so as not to alienate
any staff; important STRATEGY- don’t say it is just for staff; people really trust their
hygienist- they have such a valuable role in the whole healthcare team; Current situation
with the staff- how can they get this message to our patients- there is a buzz and energy
going on in the clinic since Dr Stewart’s presentation- working on developing a language to
interact with patients
Dr Cottrell recommends we get in to the dental assoc and educate now- they meet quarterly
12. Lakeridge Health Initiatives:
We welcomed Shelley McKinney- had not been aware of public health resources;
Glenda Clapham had met with Shelley Davey on January 8- to provide SC materials and
information to assist her in an upcoming presentation to the administration regarding
prioritizing SC support programs for staff, and provided information to her re: cost benefit
of SC to hospital and Its Canada’s Time (Pfizer’s non-branded smoking cessation
campaign) materials prior to National Non-Smoking Week; Pfizer will support Lakeridge
Hospital with development of SC programs in house
13. Provincial Quit Smoking challenge- Drive to Quit campaign through Cancer Society
and Smokers Helpline
14. STOP study- ongoing- 1st 11,000 people enrolled will get free NRT, must smoke at least
10 cigarettes per day
Member Activity Update/ Community Update

last week case- patient eligible for Chrysler patient- Jane/ pharmacists can bill $40 for
counseling, and $15 for F/U; she had to go through training- Chrysler site mentions
specific pharmacists who can train

Questions- are docs covered in GM program for billing?

Jane Ling- there is a fear amongst staff that people will be offended when approached
about smoking; also staff has become more empowered to deal with patients now that
they have witnessed Jane

Dr. John Stewart- approached by Shelley Davy (Occupational Health and
Wellness); new CEO of Lakeridge- focusing on quality: treats staff so they feel
empowered to help patients; John Stewart meeting with new CEO tomorrow- can hint
about benefits of Smoking Cessation initiatives

Willa- works at 4 corners, Oshawa- challenging- very difficult to reach patients to
motivate; also less education; control issues- when life difficult- empowered to smoke
if they want to; 75% of her clients are smokers, also many who have mental illness as
well

DurhamMD.ca- people don’t know about this resource very well, very latest info –for
physicians
Resources Update:
Public health resources: Sandi Schmidt:- resources available (note- Jack Cottrell very
interested in free resources)- order form, pregnancy resources, smokers helpline cards- pros
manning lines); Minimal contact info workshops- done for medical secretaries, pharmacy
staff, etc
Stephanie-provided list of local counseling programs, smokers helpline- looking for a
smokers helpline fax referral; smoking is strongly associated with disadvantage; this
NETWORK- facilitates communication; Best Practices supported by Dental Assoc, Nursing
Assoc, Pharm Assoc, Health Dept, Physician Assoc
Resource accessibility, financial support; have to gear our strategies to patients as well as
health care professionals; health dept can keep Network updated about Ontario programming
Ideas:

Dual presentations- by pharmacist and physician together

public health- perhaps will focus more this year on higher usage areas

public health: UOIT initiatives: students talking to students
Next Steps to Meet our Mandate:



Smoke free properties- ie Bowmanville- Medical Centres
Presentations by the Network to GPs, Dentists, Pharmacists, NPs, Nurses
Dr Charl Els speaking to group when he will be in town- he will be at TEACH at
end of May- Jane Ling to initiate invitation, Pfizer will sponsor