223054 Chiropractic Role In The World Health Organization's Effort Against Tobacco Use

Monday, November 8, 2010 : 12:48 PM - 1:06 PM

Medhat Alattar, MBBCh, DC, MS , Palmer Chiropractic College - Florida campus, Port Orange, FL
Gary Auerbach, BS, DC, MPH (can , School of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
The Chiropractic Role In The World Health Organization's Effort Against Tobacco Use

Introduction

In the 20th century tobacco killed 100 million worldwide. Currently, 5.4 million deaths per year are linked to tobacco. Chiropractors Against Tobacco (CAT) campaign was lunched to define the role of chiropractic in protecting the public from the devastating health, social, environmental and economic consequences of tobacco consumption.

Objective

To create and sustain Chiropractors Against Tobacco” CAT” program to support tobacco control measures based on the WHO recommendation and provision.

Methods:

WFC's delegates participated in all TFI and FCTC meetings since 1998. Chiropractic Against Tobacco is formed. Informational posters and brochures are developed with the help of chiropractic colleges. Chiropractic position paper was created. Support to chiropractors worldwide in several languages. Maintenance of website support continues.

Results

A chiropractic position paper was adopted during the 2002 WHA. Informational poster and brochures were prepared and made available in several languages. Website support was developed. Observing the World No tobacco day-May 31 was advocated among chiropractic colleges and association worldwide.

Discussion Tobacco use is a preventable and is a top priority for public health. CAT is a strong viable program that is accessible to chiropractic associations, colleges and practitioners world wide and can be used as base to support a boarder participation in the WHO effort.

Conclusion

Chiropractors' joint effort through programs like “CAT” can play a major role in protecting their patients and the public.

Learning Areas:
Advocacy for health and health education
Communication and informatics

Learning Objectives:
Describe the role of World Federation of Chiropractic in support of WHO's effort against tobacco Identify the chiropractic colleges’ effort Explain the steps taken to avail support to chiropractors interested in participating in the effort worldwide Explain the role of Chiropractic against Tobacco program Describe the expected expansion of the role of chiropractic against tobacco

Keywords: Tobacco, Community Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a member of the public health committee of the World Federation of Chiropractic
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 3198.0: Health Policy, Practice and Regulation