QU-IPEC organises annual activity on smoking cessation

The QU Health Interprofessional Education Committee (IPEC) at Qatar University (QU) organised recently its third IPE activity, entitled Interprofessional Education Activity on Smoking Cessation. A total of 150 students and 30 facilitators from different healthcare programmes in QU and University of Calgary-Qatar (UCQ) participated in the annual activity which aimed to help students learn and respect the role and responsibility of each profession.An important factor was for students to comprehend different healthcare scopes and functions. Students also communicated in a collaborative and responsible manner and included all stakeholders in the decision-making process regarding smoking cessation, an essential topic for Qatar's healthcare system. The IPE event provided the opportunity for students from public health, biomedical science, medicine, and pharmacy to develop skills in working collaboratively. Students shared their knowledge about the prevalence of smoking worldwide, trends in smoking over time, its impact on health and well-being, and strategies to assist people to quit smoking.Students had the opportunity to work interprofessionally to understand the smoking cessation process while reflecting the role of their professions. They implemented the 5A Model for Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence, an evidenced-based smoking cessation practice that can be used by any health professional and implemented as part of a routine visit; to help in smoking withdrawal through a role-play with the facilitators. The 5A model consists of: Asking about tobacco use; advise to quit; assess willingness to make a quit attempt; assist in quit attempt and arrange.Dr Lily O’Hara, the lead facilitator for the event and associate professor of Public Health at College of Health Sciences said: "The IPE event was highly successful in achieving the learning outcomes of students learning with, from, and about each other's roles in reducing the harm from tobacco use. Students shared knowledge about the extent of tobacco use and tobacco-related deaths around the world, trends in use in different regions, and global and national strategies to reduce tobacco-related disease and death.”Dr Sharah Haque, assistant professor UC-Q noted: "The IPE event was an optimal opportunity for students from various disciplines to come together to collaborate and learn. In our group, dental health, public health, pharmacy and nursing were represented. Students contributed to the role-play scenario in a manner that was only possible from the uniqueness of their specialty. The group also bonded during our introduction activity as we explored common ground on our similarities and embraced our differences.”"IPE gave us an idea about what I’m going to deal with in my future career, helped me in discussing with others and share ideas and enhance my critical thinking and creativity. I’m grateful for having this experience, and won’t miss any chance to participate again and enrich my abilities and skills even more,” added Mariam Qaddoumi, second year biomedical student, College of Health Sciences.