Smoking control program and occupational therapy: experience report

Abstract

Nicotine dependence is characterized by a strong desire to use the substance and difficulty to control the use, among other aspects, so smoking is considered a  pandemic, besides being a  causal factor for approximately four other potential diseases incapacitating or fatal (MINISTÉRIO DA SAÚDE, 2020). Due to the consequences of smoking on the health of individuals, in 1986 the Ministry of Health, in partnership with the National Cancer Institute José de Alencar Gomes da Silva- INCA, articulated the actions that make up the National Program for Tobacco Control -PNCT, to reduce the prevalence of tobacco users and morbidity and mortality resulting from the tobacco consumption and its derivatives (INCA, 2022).  The PNCT is intended for people who have the desire to quit smoking, providing information and strategies necessary for participants to better direct their efforts, it consists of an active and pragmatic approach, where individuals are encouraged to apply in their daily lives what they learn in the sessions (INCA, 2019). Thus, a program cycle has four total sessions, with up to fifteen participants, believed to be more effective than longer groups, dealing with the themes: (1) entender why one smokes and how it affects health, (2) the first days without smoking, (3) how to overcome obstacles to stay without smoking and (4) the benefits after quitting smoking (INCA,  2019). After this period,  fortnightly maintenance meetings took place.  This work will address the experience as an intern of Occupational Therapy in a Basic Health  Unit - UBS, of the Federal District that carried out pnct groups, aiming to present the functioning of the groups and the contributions of the Occupational Terapia for their development.

DOI: 10.56238/homeinternationalanais-102