During the Regional Health Congress held in Comillas (Cantabria), two projects developed within the framework of the Joint Action PreventNCD were presented, focusing on health equity and approaches to tackling smoking.
As part of Work Package 7 (WP7), professionals from the Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital (HUMV) and the Marqués de Valdecilla Research Institute (IDIVAL) presented the study “Retrospective analysis of clinical and demographic variables recorded in the Altamira Electronic Health Record to assess aspects related to inequity in access to tobacco and alcohol cessation programs.” This analysis aims to identify inequalities in access to cessation programs among vulnerable groups such as older adults, migrants, and people with mental health problems. Preliminary results indicate signs of inequality, particularly affecting the migrant population.
Additionally, within Work Package 10 (WP10), the pilot project “Group-based tobacco and nicotine cessation in Primary Care” was presented. This initiative, managed by professionals from the Regional Ministry of Health and IDIVAL, was designed based on a survey of healthcare professionals regarding their consumption habits and attitudes towards smoking. The program is being implemented in 15 basic health areas, with 104 participants, and includes group sessions led by trained healthcare professionals, promoting motivation, mutual support, and ongoing follow-up. As part of this strategy, two accredited workshops were also delivered, training 40 professionals.
Cover photo: Part of the JA PreventNCD team in Cantabria, responsible for presenting the pilot project “Group-based tobacco and nicotine cessation in Primary Care.”
Inside photo: Part of the JA PreventNCD team in Cantabria, responsible for presenting the study “Retrospective analysis of clinical and demographic variables recorded in the Altamira Electronic Health Record to assess aspects related to inequity in access to tobacco and alcohol cessation programs.”
