Experience report: creating a smoking cessation group as a method to promote the well-being of Primary Health Care users in the rural area of Moreno–PE

Abstract

Smoking is the leading preventable cause of death worldwide, accounting for about half of all diseases in developing countries and being one of the major risk factors for Noncommunicable Chronic Diseases (NCDs). Its effects include poorer quality of life and a higher risk of cardiovascular events compared to non-smokers. In Brazil, smoking prevalence is higher in rural areas than in urban regions. The objective is to report the experience of implementing the National Tobacco Control Program at the Family Health Unit (USF) of Caraúna, a rural area in the municipality of Moreno-PE, aiming to promote smoking cessation and improve the cardiovascular health of the population served. This is an experience report developed by the multiprofessional team of the Caraúna Family Health Unit. A situational diagnosis of the community was conducted, followed by a literature review and the development of an intervention plan based on the Coordinator’s Manual from the Brazilian Ministry of Health. The intervention included the creation of a smoking cessation group using a cognitive-behavioral approach, addiction treatment, and cardiovascular risk assessment through the Prevent, Framingham and Hearts calculators before and after smoking cessation.: In the short term, the formation and effective functioning of the rural smoking cessation group were observed, with good participant adherence and continuous follow-up of users and former users. There was a reduction in withdrawal-related symptoms and improvement in cardiovascular risk indicators. Concluding that the implementation of the National Tobacco Control Program in the rural area of Moreno-PE proved feasible and beneficial. In the long term, maintaining the group’s activities is expected to promote sustainable adherence and contribute to improving the quality of life and cardiovascular health of primary care users.