During the first Conference of the European Network for Smoking and Tobacco Prevention (ENSP) on Tobacco Control, entitled “Research, Prevention & Treatment“, from the 5^th to 7^th April 2016 in Brussels, the ENSP will host the 2^nd Progress Meeting of the TOB.g project with participants representing all partners.

The objective of the 2^nd Progress Meeting that will take place on April 6 in Brussels is to assess the project’s progress, and take decisions for remedial actions required in case the project is not meeting some of its targets. The 2^nd Progress Meeting will focus on the finalization and acceptance of the draft tobacco cessation guidelines, as well as the directions for pilot sessions’ implementation.

Stay tuned for more information on the outcomes of the meeting.

1st Newsletter TOB-G

TOB-G project aims to develop and implement an innovative and cost effective approach to prevent chronic diseases related to tobacco dependence. The specialized guidelines for high risks groups will be developed according to ENSP’s evidence based and good practices in tobacco cessation. High risk populations are considered those who suffer from cardiovascular diseases, COPD, type 2 diabetes, adolescents & pregnant women.

The developed guidelines will contain strategies and recommendations designed to assist health professionals in delivering and supporting effective treatment of dependence on tobacco. Recommendations will be made as a result of scientific reviews and evidence of good practices from scientific groups that will consist of health professionals of different expertise.

To monitor the quality of the approach a pilot implementation of the tobacco cessation will be conducting for each group. The assessment of the effectiveness of the tobacco cessation guidelines will be the primary aim of the scientific groups and willbe measured by the number of people quitting smoking after the pilot implementation. Since the tobacco cessation guidelines will be addressed to health professionals, the partnership will develop and implement an e-learning training for guidelines use.

The project fits perfectly the objectives and priorities of the EU 3rd Health Programme, as it will assist health professionals to provide guidance and targeted prevention to high risk populations engaged to the unfavourable lifestyle of smoking. Training primary care physicians addresses the lack of specialist doctors in EU and increases access to tobacco cessation specialists.

TOB-G project will enhance the overall European capacity in the treatment of tobacco dependence, thus, in theprevention of chronic diseases, through offering smoking cessation tools, appropriately assessed and fitted to the specific needs of high risk groups.

The ENSP Network Meeting and General Assembly took place in Bucharest, Romania, from Wednesday 21st to Friday 23rd May, 2014 where the TOB-G project was presented by the partners.