Group picture of 1st and 2nd Year MPH student participants along with SPH faculty members Dr. Yelena Bird, Dr. Marwa Farag, Dr. John Moraros, Ms. Tanya Rac, Lung Association of Saskatchewan representative Ms. Jennifer Miller, and PACT/TAR facilitators Ms. Janice Burgess and Ms. Sandra Lane.
According to Health Canada, tobacco use is presently the number one cause of deaths nationally. As such, health care professionals must be fully versed on its uses, health effects and significance to the growing number of Aboriginal users.
On October 20, the School of Public Health, along with the Partnership to Assist with Cessation of Tobacco (PACT) and Tobacco Addiction Recovery, hosted a PACT/TAR Level I and II Health Professional Training Workshop. Attending this meaningful Workshop were members of public health organizations (Lung Association of Saskatchewan and Prairie Oxygen), students representing both the College of Pharmacy & Nutrition and the School of Public Health, and practicing health professionals.
The workshop was broken down into 3 sections:
1. Facts regarding the effects of smoking and pharmacological interventions, hosted by Janice Burgess.
2. An in-depth analysis of tobacco’s meaning in the Aboriginal culture, hosted by Jaimee Marks.
3. A training session on Motivational Interview skills to counsel those who want to quit smoking, hosted by Sandra Lane.
Through interactive learning exercises, attendants were exposed to real-life smoking intervention situations, and were instructed on problem-solving strategies regarding this particularly dangerous public health concern.
The School of Public Health is proud to bring this vital workshop to their students, as it both exposes them to ground-level issues, and prepares them for the future in public health practice, where professional development is a particularly important competency to fulfill.
Dr. Moraros, MPH Director, emphasized that the commitment to improve the quality of life and health of our local communities within the province of Saskatchewan starts from the top. The Executive Director of the School of Public Health, Dr. Robert Buckingham, along with the faculty, and staff of the SPH, support the ground-level development of health professionals, to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.
"We are all a part of the medicine wheel. We can all live together" - Jaimee Marks
"Smoking is one of the most effective preventive treatments health care professionals can provide - it has a huge impact" - Janice Burgess
"Everyone knows and cares for someone who uses tobacco. Tobacco affects us all! It is imperative for health care professionals to implement tobacco cessation interventions in our everyday practices. Programs such as PACT is a great way to assist health care professionals in doing just that." - Jill Hubick, Health Education Coordinator, The Lung Association of Saskatchewan.
“It is important for all health professionals to understand the addictive nature of tobacco products. It is an addiction; not a lifestyle choice, behaviour or habit! Tobacco use is still considered to be ‘the number one cause of preventable disease and death’ according to the World Health Organization. Health professionals need to re-evaluate the language that we have been using, and discuss tobacco use with their clients. Please remember that four people die in SK every day because of their tobacco use…our numbers are far too high! All health professionals should take the “Tobacco 101” training to understand what product their clients are dealing with and how to help them.” - Jennifer Miller, Vice President of Health Education, The Lung Association of Saskatchewan.
By Thilina Bandara, 2nd Year MPH Student.
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