EndTobacco - A Program Linking the WHO MPOWER Framework with the CDC Best Practices for Evidence-based Tobacco Control at Institutional, Local and National Levels

Despite advances in tobacco control and reductions in tobacco use, smoking remains a significant global public health concern, responsible for approximately 30% of all cancer deaths. Motivated by the daily suffering of patients and their families as witnessed by faculty and staff from across the institution, MD Anderson is making ending tobacco an institutional public health priority. Our goal is to end tobacco use and addiction among our patients, employees, and their families; and to lead, follow, and partner to achieve this goal at institutional, local/regional/state and national/international levels.

Over 20 MD Anderson scientists, clinicians, administrative leaders, and public health practitioners leveraged the World Health Organization’s MPOWER framework along with the Centers for Disease Control ‘s (CDC) Best Practices for Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs to recommend evidence-based strategies and specific actions for addressing tobacco use in three areas: policy, education and clinical services, at three levels: within its own institution, local/state and national/international. This initiative calls for an unprecedented and sustained institutional commitment to leadership, investment, and collaboration to advance evidence-based tobacco control. The initiative is called “EndTobacco,” an inspirational and aspirational call to action, perfectly aligned with MD Anderson’s mission of Making Cancer History®.

Forging partnerships across a range of stakeholders is critical to achieving EndTobacco goals of reducing the prevalence of smoking, the proportion of non-smokers exposed to second-hand smoke and increasing cessation attempts by current smokers. A first step is to disseminate the framework, strategies and actions to others who may join with us to EndTobacco.