Smokerlyzers, also known as carbon monoxide monitors, are a key tool in support for smoking cessation. These simple, easy to use devices allow a health worker to engage with patients in a simple and direct manner and help launch them on their smoke-free journey.
Smokerlyzers are a valuable tool in patient care for several reasons:
- They provide objective measurements of carbon monoxide levels in the breath, indicating smoking status.
- Results can motivate patients to quit smoking by showing immediate health impacts.
- Stopping smoking clearly demonstrates changes in carbon monoxide levels which is often a strong motivator to continue a quit attempt.
- If they go on to use nicotine replacement therapy or pharmacotherapy it will also show that the products are effective at reducing their Smokerlyzer score.
- They help track progress in cessation programs, allowing for tailored support.
- Facilitates more informed discussions between healthcare providers and patients about smoking and health.
- Overall, Smokerlyzers support improved health outcomes and encourage smoking cessation efforts.
The opportunity
An opportunity has arisen for general practices in Northern NSW to have access to Smokerlyzers on a trial basis to support with smoking cessation. This will lead to longer term opportunities to use Smokerlyzers, if the trial is successful.
What will be provided at NO COST to your service:
A Bedfont Micro+ Smokerlyzer (RRP $1330 +GST)
Training and education provided by the Health Promotion Smoke Free team at Northern NSW Local Health District:
- Managing Nicotine Dependence (1 hour training – face to face or online)
- How to use a Smokerlyzer (45 minute training session face to face or online)
- One to one mentoring support
- Access to resources that support quit smoking conversations
- Ongoing guidance and full access to smoking cessation experts by both email and phone support.
Your investment – what we ask of you:
We have kept this simple, there is not lots of paperwork or additional information required, just some simple markers that we need to track to determine the effectiveness of the trial and opportunities for continuation.
- Identify a staff member who is interested and wishes to support patients to quit smoking.
- That staff member is available to attend the two training courses outlined above – a total of 1.75 hours.
- Evaluation survey of staff confidence in providing smoking cessation interventions is assessed at Pre and 3 months follow-up.
- A commitment to use the Smokerlyzers consistently and regularly within the practice and to log the number of smoking cessation interventions that are carried out during this period.
- Be available to discuss anecdotally the impact of using the Smokerlyzers in addition to the logging of smoking cessation interventions.
At the 3-month mark the Health Promotion Unit will assess use of the Smokerlyzers and, together with the practice, can determine if they want to continue to use it as part of their ongoing practice delivery.
For practices who are engaged with the project, the opportunity is there for further and ongoing support.
Limited spots available
If you are interested in being part of this trial and receiving a Smokerlyzer please contact:
Kelli Babovic, Primary Health Coordinator at Healthy North Coast: [email protected].
In your email response, please outline your interest in this trial and nominate a staff member with their contact details who has expressed a genuine interest to be involved. Please note you can list as many staff members to be involved as you wish and they can be general practitioners or RNs.
Please ensure you list the staff members full name, contact details and job role at your practice.
Please note this opportunity is open only to Northern NSW practices at this stage.
HealthPathways also offers clinicians support for smoking cessation:
