Journal of Public Health Advance Access originally published online on May 11, 2007
Journal of Public Health 2007 29(2):142-146; doi:10.1093/pubmed/fdm019
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‘Smoke gets in your eyes’: a research-informed professional education and advocacy programme
Judith Thornton, Honorary Research Fellow1
Richard Edwards, Senior Lecturer in Epidemiology2
Roger A. Harrison, Research Development Lead, Research Scientist in Public Health3
Peter Elton, Director of Public Health4
Nick Astbury, Consultant Ophthalmologist5
Simon P. Kelly, Consultant Ophthalmologist6,
1 Clinical Epidemiology and Public Health Unit, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
2 Department of Public Health, Wellington School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Otago, P.O. Box 7343, Wellington South, New Zealand
3 Clinical Epidemiology and Public Health Unit, University of Manchester and Bolton Primary Care Trust, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
4 Department of Public Health, Bury Primary Care Trust, 21 Silver Street, Bury BL9 0EN, UK
5 Ocular Public Health Committee, Royal College of Ophthalmologists, 17, Cornwall Terrace, London NW1 4QW, UK
6 Eye Unit, Bolton Hospitals NHS Trust, Minerva Road, Bolton BL4 0JR, UK
Address correspondence to Simon P. Kelly, E-mail: simon.kelly{at}rbh.nhs.uk
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Abstract |
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Smoking is associated with common sight-threatening eye conditions. We suspected that this link was little known and it might be a potent novel health promotional tool. We therefore developed a programme ultimately aiming to reduce the burden of eye disease attributable to smoking. The programme aims were to (1) raise awareness of the link between smoking and eye disease and advocate changes in relevant policies and (2) investigate and promote change in professional practice so that smokers are identified and routinely offered smoking cessation advice/support in eyecare settings. An inter-professional team developed a programme of research and education targeting policy-makers, healthcare professionals, the public and patients. We reviewed evidence about the causal link between smoking and eye disease, researched current awareness of the link, researched current practice of eyecare health professionals, produced health education materials and campaigned for policy changes. The series of projects was completed successfully, achieving media coverage, confirming the causal link between smoking and eye disease and demonstrating low awareness of this association. Healthcare leaders and policy-makers were engaged in our programme resulting in commitment, in principle, from the UK's Chief Medical Officer and the European Commission to consider including warning labels related to blindness on cigarette packets.
Keywords: blindness, eye disease, health promotion, quality improvement, smoking