Encouraging the Approach to Smoking - A Task Under Construction - Arise Garcia de Siqueira Galil

Smoking has a devastating impact on population morbidity and mortality and represents one of the main modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular and chronic respiratory diseases, diabetes mellitus, and cancer. According to the World Health Organization, tobacco kills more than half of its users and causes more than 8 million deaths per year. Quitting smoking is the best way to add years to the lives of smokers, and professional support can double the chances of successful cessation. The goal of this project was to train medical students in addressing smoking, disseminating information, and discouraging smoking through support, social media, education campaigns, and ongoing training to better use the skills acquired. As an initial activity, biweekly meetings were scheduled, with the help and face-to-face monitoring of patients of the Unit of Integral Assistance to Smokers (UAI-T), but with the limitations imposed by the pandemic of COVID-19, the focus migrated to a virtual approach, using various social media (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter) and podcasts (Spotify), making internet users aware about smoking and online support to solve doubts. The posts are made weekly. Allied, there was the development of scientific research, with the active participation of students. As result, the positive impact on the educational promotion for smokers, regardless of their status, as well as for the community in general. It was evident the relevance of the student's performance in the three main interventions and support to smokers, training in the approach to smoking, and scientific production.