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Smoke control activities in Greece. The 2 pillars: 1. School teaching interventions
2. Interventions of oral health professionals
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Hellenic Cancer Society, Athens, Greece
Publication date: 2023-10-08
Tob. Prev. Cessation 2023;9(Supplement 2):A122
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
Tobacco use accounts for 25% of all cancer deaths globally and kills more than 8 million people each year, including 1.3 million non-smokers who are exposed to second-hand smoke (WHO, 2023).
WHO’s Framework on Tobacco Control recommends that all health-care professionals (HCPs) become advocates for tobacco control by offering help to people who use tobacco.
The main objective of the SmokefreeGreece initiative is to raise a smokefree generation, enhance youth awareness on the risks of tobacco addiction. The initiative coordinates a series of actions, with friendly approach based on positive messages and colorful images and from September of 2022 is fully supported by the NGO Hellenic Cancer Society.
The SmokefreeGreece educational program includes:
• School-based interventions. From 2014 more than 75.000 students have participated in 2.183 interventions.
• Train the trainer workshops. From 2010, over 2,500 teachers and healthcare professionals have completed the seminars.
• Educational material for students, teachers, parents, health professionals.
• Annual Panhellenic Student conferences. Since 2010, more than 8.000 students have participated with educational activities in 12 conferences.
• Student Competitions. 9 Annual Panhellenic Student Competitions since 2013, with more than 3.000 participations.
• Collaborations with other NGOs
• Social media activity
On May 4 2022, SmokefreeGreece was rewarded by the European Commission, with first place in the ""2021 EU Health Award on Cancer Prevention"" competition, as the most successful cancer prevention campaign in Europe and on May 25 2023, professor Panagiotis Behrakis was awarded, by the WHO for his offer to reduce smoking on youth in Greece.
FDI (World Dental Federation) has created protocols to educate and train Dentists, to support their patients effectively to quit using tobacco-nicotine products with short interventions.
In Greece, the Greek Dental Association, and the SmokefreeGreece initiative have organized nationwide seminars for Dentists, based on FDI’s protocols.
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.