Action

Goal for Client Intervention:

Help client not to use tobacco and to use slips and relapses as a learning opportunities.

Intervention Options:

ASK:

• Ask client about relapse prevention plan, triggers, successes, NRT and/or medication use.
  What strategies are you using to cope with urges to smoke?
  What kinds of situations are tempting for you?

ADVISE:

• Advise client to reward self.
  What have you done to reward yourself?  
• Advise client to identify what is working and what barriers exist.
  What parts of your plan are working well? What is still a barrier?
  How could you plan to get around it?  
• Advise client to be confident in ability to succeed.
  You are making good progress. You should be proud.  
• Advise client to develop/establish social support network.
  Who will you ask for support and what will you ask them for? What do people do that is not helpful? How can you ask them to stop?

ASSIST:

• Assist client to put slips and relapses into perspective.
  Don’t be discouraged if you slip. Most people experience that. Slips and relapses are learning opportunities, and you can transfer that learning to continued success or future quit attempts.

ARRANGE:

• Arrange for referrals and resources (NRT, medication, community resources, referral to Smokers’ Helpline, etc.)

Resource options (Click to order):

One Step At A Time Program Booklet - For Smokers Who Want to Quit
A booklet to help a person who smokes and wants to quit, examine their smoking habit, their ideas and attitudes about quitting. Walks them through making a plan. Useful for people in the Contemplation, Preparation, Action or Maintenance stages (includes slips and relapses).

Thinking about Quitting
Smokers' Helpline pamphlet provides information about how to obtain one-to-one confidential counselling, support and advice by providing phone number and hours of Smokers’ Helpline. For people in the Contemplation through Maintenance stages of quitting smoking.

Eating Well with Canada’s Food Guide
Detailed recommendations for the number of servings from each of the four food groups based on age and gender. Useful for people in the Precontemplation through Maintenance stages of quitting smoking.

Canada’s Physical Activity Guide to Healthy Active Living
Includes benefits of regular physical activity, explains how much and the kind of activity you need to stay healthy and provides tips for getting started. Encourages activity at home, at school, at work, at play and on the way! Useful for people in the Precontemplation through Maintenance stages of quitting smoking.

Smoke-free Homes pamphlet
Provides info about poisonous chemicals found in secondhand smoke; offers 2 decals (Welcome to our smoke-free home & car); health effects of secondhand smoke; tips to make your home smoke free. Useful for people in the Precontemplation through Maintenance stages of quitting smoking.

Future Intervention:

At next interaction with client, ask again.

ASK:

• The last time we spoke, you had quit smoking. How long have you been smoke free? Has it been longer than 6 months?

Click on Maintenance (or whatever stage they are at) below for examples of what the health professional might say to clients. These are suggestions to stimulate your thinking about what you want to say to that particular client.