Increasing youth self-referral and attendance rate in Camden through outreach approaches in innovative educational settings?

Authors:
Sarah Morris and Sasha Cain

Presenter:
Sarah Morris
Young Person’s Advisor, Smokefree Camden, St Pancras Hospital, London, UK

Abstract
The evidence relating to youth smoking cessation is in-conclusive in terms of whether young people can be effectively supported to quit and whether they stay stopped following an intervention, however young people are becoming regular smokers and many are approaching stop smoking services for support to quit. Health promotion philosophy and the new NICE Guidance ‘School-based interventions to prevent the uptake of smoking among children and young people’ suggests providing smoking cessation support within the educational setting is a positive way to engage with young people, contribute to delivering a whole school approach, and maintain youth referral and quit rates.

Smokefree Camden has seen a substantial increase in youth self-referral rates and attendance of services since adopting a drop-in approach in innovative settings such as Job Training Schemes and Colleges. This approach is now being expanded in youth centres and other educational institutions targeting people who leave school early.

The evidence and approach will be outlined including the benefits of using texting, approaching young people directly who are smoking and having the service on-site. The secondary benefits of this work will be discussed and the outcomes of this work will be presented

Source of funding: Camden PCT and Borough

Declaration of interest: none

About the presenter
Sarah Morris joined Smokefree Camden as the Young Person’s Advisor in July 2008 where she developed the youth tobacco control work.
In September 2008 Sarah was temporarily employed by NHS Camden as the Healthy Schools Health Promotion Specialist working with the Camden Healthy Schools Team and the Healthy Eating Team before returning to Smokefree Camden where she has continued to develop the youth smoking cessation service and youth tobacco control work. Prior to this, Sarah was London’s Regional Project Manager for the Quit Because young peoples project and in Australia as the Health Promotion Officer at a women’s health promotion agency.