benefits
Trends
quitters always win
Employers and healthcare providers
work together to help employees butt out
by N e i l M a c K e n z i e
n Canada, the majority of
people who smoke are of
working age. According to
Statistics Canada’s 2010
Canadian Community Health
Survey, almost three-quarters
of Canadian smokers are
between ages 20 and 64.
Therefore, workplaces are ideal
settings to promote, provide and
support smoking cessation efforts.
Smoking cessation benefits
for employees range in scope but may
include access to quit medication;
smoking cessation hotlines; self-help
resources; counselling; social media
support; and smoke-free policies
within the workplace.
Some employers are interested in
providing smoking cessation support
but simply don’t know how to get started.
This group has increasingly turned to
health promotion providers, such as
public health authorities, to help them
take action.
W.E. Can Quit
A successful example of this type of
partnership is the W.E. (WindsorEssex) Can Quit smoking cessation
pilot project, led by the Windsor-Essex
County Health Unit with funding
from Health Canada. The health unit
partnered with six workplaces
representing different sectors to offer
a comprehensive smoking cessation
program, with aspects tailored to
individual workplaces based on their
input and needs. The project received
guidance and input from a steering
40 / April 2012 • BenefitsCanada
consultation, pharmacists determined
committee of representatives from the
whether smoking cessation medication
six workplaces, as well as Pfizer Canada
was indicated for the individual and
and local chapters of several nonwhich product was most appropriate.
governmental organizations involved
If coverage was not provided by the
in tobacco control, such as the Canadian
smoker’s benefits plan, the program
Cancer Society and the affiliated
covered the cost of up to a 12-week
Smokers’ Helpline.
supply of medications and fees for all six
The primary goal of the project was
of the follow-up pharmacist consultations.
to develop a comprehensive smoking
Pharmacists also helped interested
cessation model that could be adapted
smokers access the Smokers’ Helpline Fax
for many different types of workplaces.
Referral Program, which allows the
The program aimed to package existing
helpline’s quit specialists to directly
proven smoking cessation resources
contact smokers rather than
and supports in a way that
waiting for the smokers to
would meet the specific
Fact File
initiate the process.
needs of smokers in various
Neil MacKenzie
workplaces.
is a manager of chronic
Positive Results
One unique component
disease and workplace
was the recruitment of
During the first six months,
wellness at the Windsor10 pharmacies, selected
681 smokers—23% of the
Essex County Health Unit
based on geographical
estimated 2,657 smokers at the
nmackenzie@
location and hours of
six participating workplaces—
wechealthunit.org
operation. Pharmacists at
were reached, and 240
these locations received
participated in the program.
education
specific training to ensure
Of the 124 participants who
University of Guelph
that the program direction,
responded to the evaluation
Laurentian University
implementation and
six months after the program
Career
evaluation were being
ended, 40% reported that they
highlight
offered consistently by all
had remained smoke-free. The
Initiation of several
pharmacists at all locations.
success of the W.E. Can Quit
successful public/private
Smokers from all
pilot project shows the value
workplace wellness
participating work sites
that health provider/employer
partnerships (e.g.,
were invited to meet with a
partnerships can have.
Chrysler Canada,
participating pharmacist to
The W.E. Can Quit team is
Canadian Auto Workers,
complete brief intervention
developing a user-friendly tool
Westcoast Energy)
counselling and then plan
kit, scheduled to be available
Extraup to six follow-up sessions
online at wecanquit.ca in July,
Curricular
to take place over a
for other health units and
Doping control officer
12-week period.
healthcare professionals in
with the Canadian Centre
for Ethics in Sports
During the initial
Ontario to use or adapt.