mesa177
I don't know how many of you have heard about the newly formed Healthcare Technology Management and Advancement (HTMA) committee which operates (for now) under the patronage of the Lebanese Hospitals Management Association (LHMA). It's fairly recent given that its establishment was approved in October 2015. Anyway, the current members had a meeting yesterday which handled a brainstorming session to toss a few ideas concerning the implementation of our goals in 2016.
Mainly our goals concern:
1) Development of the biomedical engineering profession (raising awareness and support)
2) Collaboration between healthcare facilities, hospitals, and medical centers
3) Collaboration between professionals in the healthcare industry and educational institutions with programs related to the healthcare field (medicine, nursing, pharmacy, radiology, laboratory, biomedical engineering, etc...)
4) Recommendation of policies and standards related to risk, safety, and accreditation
5) Promoting excellence in management and support of healthcare technology within facilities and businesses related to the field
6) Innovating healthcare ideas which not only handle the technology aspect of patient care but the general improvement of the quality of the healthcare provided
For now, my main focus is on the last idea because that goal was one of the toughest to tackle in the group without deviating to development of new technologies. Basically what we're looking for are ideas that help improve the quality of healthcare (be it at specialized facilities or at home).
On that note, I have started thinking of all the cases of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) caused by smoking and the rapid increase in number of patients suffering from that disease. Another problem faced is the late diagnosis of COPD in patients which not only narrows the treatment options but the course of treatment becomes more expensive as the case of COPD progresses more and more.
Now here's the catch, there's a nice test called spirometry which can be used for early detection of COPD. For now, I'm still doing my research on costs of the test and support presented by different organizations like the NSSF, military, MOH, etc... But what if the cost of the test was supported in a campaign that highly resembles the mammography awareness campaign? Not only that, but what if the campaign was directed to smokers who have the highest probability of developing COPD than non-smokers, and even the smokers' family and friends (higher chances of becoming victims of second-hand smoking)?
As such, I have come forth to you good people for your opinion and feedback on the matter of developing an on-going awareness campaign on COPD early detection and prevention, coupled with a continuous program to encourage smokers to quit, which would entail free (hopefully, fingers crossed) spirometry tests, support groups, home-based prevention and treatment (in case of COPD detection), and maybe even coordinating with cardiologists, oncologists, pulmonary specialists, and emergency doctors to encourage their patients to quit smoking (if they still do) by developing an incentive program that resembles the one established in the UK.
For now, it's wishful thinking but do you think it has a shot? I'm especially interested in the feedback of smokers.
PS: Also if you have suggestions of innovative ideas of your own, please feel free to voice them over.
Thank you.
TheStunMan
I wish there is a clinic that adapts telepresence technology so if someone that is hard for him to walk or go out he could use a telepresence robot and get his prescription from his doctor. Of course its usibilty might be limited but it can be upgraded with new technologies and ideas.
mesa177
TheStunMan, thank you for the suggestion, but this still lies within developing a technology based innovation. It's a great idea, but not what I'm looking for. We have a lot of technology-based ideas for the enhancement of the healthcare industry. What I need is ideas on improving the quality of healthcare aside from technology advancement, mostly initiatives by personnel or governing bodies, awareness campaigns, support for preventative medicine instead of treatment medicine, etc...
scorz
I start smoking from about 10 or 11 years ago, all my friends smoke (and my parents as well except my brother and sister)..
In these years, I completely stopped about one and half year or so but get back to smoking nowadays.
IMHO and based on my own experience: "encouraging" a smoker to stop won't work unless he really wants to and he started the process of quitting, so the encouragement is a kind of motivation you know.
No matter how many articles/short movie/illustration the smoker reads/watches about the danger of smoking he will still want to smoke.
So I believe it's a waste of time. However, creating something that help those who already took the decision is a good idea.
And the same measure can be applied to anything basically like obesity or drugs addicts...
mesa177
Hey scorz, thank you for the honest feedback; it is much appreciated. If you don't mind me asking, did you decide to stop smoking on your own accord or was it an external factor that encouraged you to do so? If you had a close support system like your parents or friends who also considered to quit smoking, do you think you could have deterred from going back to smoking or it would not have made a difference? What if a support group was assigned to help you to stay away from smoking? Would you consider even attending a support group should there be one? Would you attend if someone close to you or is at least an acquaintance asked you to attend? Also, smoking or not, would you consider to take the spirometry test if it was offered free of charge in a hospital or medical facility near you?
I know I'm asking a lot of questions, but it would be really helpful to gather as much feedback as possible before genuinely considering to propose this idea at the next meeting in January 2016. Either way, it's really appreciated that you voiced your honest opinion.
scorz
That's a lot of question :P
First of all I need to clarify one thing: I smoke because I love the taste of tobacco. (even though people find it disgusting)
I smoke only cigarettes and like once a year arguile.
Anyway, I stopped smoking because I was learning opera and I had problems with breathing technique/vocal especially when I hit high notes. So I just stopped.
And no it would not have made any difference because like I've mentioned before I like smoking, when I stopped opera I come back.
Also it's a no when it comes to a helping group because simply I don't want to stop, if I want to I can; I've already quit I before I can do it -if I want to-. And no, I won't attend to any support group regardless of the person who asked me to for the reason I've also mentioned a few lines before.
Well about the spirometry test, I honestly don't like doing such things.. But a few years ago I could hold a high C for like ~15seconds and lower note F for about double the time and maybe more(with vibrato). It means my lung "were" fast -because you need to inhale as much air as you can in the minimum amount of time(1s to 2s) to keep the hold- but I am not sure about now.
xterm
I don't have any extra recommendations, but I'll share my story with smoking.
I started smoking in 2002 randomly up to a point where I was smoking 3 packs per day. There have been instances where I'd stop for a couple of days then back, stop for a couple of weeks then back and the extent of what I was able to withstand, was 6 months. In 2010 my first child was born and I had not stopped smoking though I'd always constantly comfort myself in saying I don't smoke in front of him (No, this won't end up being sad story, so you can keep reading). He used to constantly cough and we never were able to figure out why. The doctor kept saying that it will eventually go away, but something kept telling me it was due to my smoking and his exposure to it. Additionally, I'm one to get chronic headaches and often the acute migraine episodes which I often blamed on smoking. One day in 2012, I had a migraine episode and after that, decided to completely stop smoking. I figured it'd be temporary since we all know how hard is it to let go, but then my wife got pregnant and it was another reason not to get back to smoking. Mind you, nothing changed with my kid's cough, he kept coughing for about a year and then stopped and my migraines and headaches still show up constantly. Still, I managed to stay off smoking, that's, 3 years and 3 months since (but who's counting? :-)).
Here's what I witnessed and I believe most who stop would agree:
It's very hard to stop smoking.
You probably said you're going to stop a million times before you actually did.
You secretly stopped smoking for an hour then started smoking again.
You say you're stopping every sunday night, just to start back every monday morning.
You can't see yourself eating and not smoking afterwards.
You can't see yourself drinking and not smoking afterwards.
You can't see yourself having sex and not smoking afterwards.
You can't see yourself having cofee and not smoking afterwards.
You can't see yourself playing games at night and not smoking during.
Then one day, out of nowhere, you stop smoking:
You smell better.
Your clothes smell better.
Your house smells better.
You cough less (how's your throat in the morning?)
You're healthier.
Food tastes better.
People aren't irritated by your smokiness.
But then:
You start eating more to compensate the cravings.
You gain weight.
You still crave a cigarette every now and then, especially in very stressful situations.
Still:
This is the best decision you've made and you only needed your own self to make it happen.
-
GOOD LUCK!
P.S: Sorry mesa, hope I didn't hijack your thread.
nas93
xterm wroteI don't have any extra recommendations, but I'll share my story with smoking.
<snip...>
I started when I was 16 and kept smoking until 22, at 19 I lost the sense of smell and stopped tasting things like I used to (I had a deviated septum from a fall when I was 5 which added to the congestion) I had an operation called septoplasty which fixed my congestion and I could smell normally again but the doctor told me to lay off the smoking so I did for about a year and then I started again when my nose healed then the loss of smell came back and a visit to the doctor told me that I must stop smoking indefinitely or I risk losing my sense of smell (and taste) for ever so I did. Gained about 13 kg after quitting but everything else was better, no morning black mucous no coughs no congestion... However I still crave a cigarette while having a drink or after sex, If I didn't lose my sense of smell for a while I probably would still smoke.
mesa177
First and foremost, I would like to thank scorz, xterm, and nas93 for sharing their stories. I'm gonna be honest, I'm glad with the feedback I'm getting here.
@scorz: You probably have the most interesting reason to quit smoking: pursuing opera (which by the way is super cool). I honestly hope that one day you'd consider picking opera back up (and maybe secretly even quit smoking again, not gonna lie there)
@xterm: Congratulations!!! Hope your track record would live up to match (and maybe supersede) the 30-year quit term of my late grandfather (mind you, he went back to smoking after that until he was diagnosed with COPD). You have my complete and utter cyber-support.
PS: I'm still trying to figure out how you thought what you wrote was "hijacking" the thread... just keep on sharing buddy.
@nas93: Yeah dullness of both senses smell and taste is quite a common "side-effect" for heavy or long-term smokers. I'm just glad you quit all together instead of just toning it down (which most smokers do when they've undergone PCIs - Percutaneous Coronary Intervention or more commonly angioplasty - or even suffered heart attacks).
This subject strikes close to home seeing that I lost both grandfathers as well as my mother's 50-year old cousin - who was like an uncle to me - (may they rest in peace) to COPD. It's easier to treat it in early stages than finding out when it's too late, and get forced to live on oxygen bottles and concentrators and have your lungs getting drained of fluids every once in a while. It's hard for the smoker, but trust me it's also hard on the family and friends. But that's why I'm trying to advocate early detection of COPD.
Also, another question if you guys don't mind answering: what helps most in the quitting process? Do you find a specific means which helps more than others like nicotine gums, patches, etc...?
xterm
mesa177 wroteAlso, another question if you guys don't mind answering: what helps most in the quitting process? Do you find a specific means which helps more than others like nicotine gums, patches, etc...?
The many times I've tried to stop smoking, I've tried gum and patches. Both did not help at all not to mention they were overly expensive, let alone the fact that the very first nicotine patch I used caused an allergic reaction that forced me to wear a red stain on my arm for over two weeks.
I could think of a couple of things that helped me when I quit:
- Quit cold turkey, do not reduce the amount of smoke, it's even worse because you'll be anxious all the time as to when the next cigarette is due.
- Encouragement is the best form of help you could get, if you don't have morale support, it would be harder. Make sure to tell your family -and friends not to play the reverse psychology game on you during this stressful period.
- Do not distance yourself from people who smoke just because you stopped smoking; Challenge yourself to accept being around them, this would give you more confidence in your ability to sustain quitting. When I stopped, the very next night I was surrounded by heavy smokers and while it was painful, it helped me get through my second night.
- Keep something close by that you can chew/eat/drink, preferably sugar free.
- What helped me the most however, is knowing that if I can stop for 24 hours, I'm pretty much done with smoking. Yes, it's THAT easy (NOT!).
scorz
@mesa177
Well I did not just "quit". When I took the decision to quit, I've put like a 2 or 3 months plan(can't remember) to stop.
The plan was to decreasing the amount of cigarettes I smoke a day.
First week went from 60 cigs to 50cigs (and hold the 50 for a couple of day) and then decrease to 45 or 40 and so on..
At first it was easy, but from Phase(20 cigs/day) to none was really hard. Last week before I completely stopped I was smoking only 1 cigarette(kept it for a special occasion: coffee, alcohol)
And like xterm mentioned before the hardest part is letting go the cig after food/coffee/alcohol/sex/gaming/hobbies(piano/reading/writing) and I may add when compiling linux kernel.
Notes that I gained about 50kg after quitting! I was like ~100kg and jumped to more than 150kg (I already love eating so..)
But then again, after a couple of years I made the same plan to loose the over weight and come back to ~90kg(still obese though)
If you are interested I can share the story of loosing weight as well.
I hope I helped and good luck!
xazbrat
I quit smoking too---just stopped enjoying the cigarettes and since I was overseas, at $8 a pack, it became a pretty expensive habit to not enjoy. Anyhow, a few things that helped.
1. First, you have to want to quit smoking for yourself--not for your friends, family or other loved ones. You have to be greedy and only think of yourself. I used some self hypnosis stuff a few weeks before I decided to quit which strengthened my dislike for smoking.
2. Quit cold turkey--no patches, gum or other aids. They prolong the agony and you are more apt to restart smoking.
3. When you quit smoking, quit things inititally that you associate with smoking including things like coffee and alcohol. It is sort of tough quitting everything at once as you will get caffeine headaches in addition to the nicotine withdrawal. I just drank water when I craved a cigarette and after a few days, the headaches went away. After you become comfortable, then you can go back to them (it took me a month to drink coffee again)
4. You will soon realize that the 'bored cigarette' is the toughest one conquer. Whenever I craved a cigarette because I was bored, I drank a lot of water (1 liter or so) and kept myself busy. I would either go out for a walk around the block, cook something, clean something, anything to keep my mind from thinking about smoking. Just find a way to kill 20 minutes and the craving will go away.
5. Food tasted better---I ate spicy foods like Thai and Mexican, and craved some types of desserts. Luckily I only gained around 5 kg after smoking which seems to be very little compared to some in the forum.
6. And finally, I didn't tell anyone I was quitting until a couple of weeks after I had quit. For me, it took away the pressure from people reminding me how quitting was going and bringing up the cravings again. To each their own---whatever works for you.
Hope that helps someone. It is not easy to quit.