Seocho-gu Operates '1:1 Remote Video Smoking Cessation Counseling Room'

From Counseling to Support for Smoking Cessation Supplies, Existing Smoking Cessation Support Services Conducted Untact

Remote Video Smoking Cessation Counseling

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Seocho-gu (Mayor Eunhee Jo) is operating a 1:1 remote video smoking cessation counseling room for smokers (Seocho-gu residents and workers in Seocho-gu) from this month until the COVID-19 situation stabilizes, as part of a new smoking cessation success project in the era of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

Due to the spread of COVID-19, public health center operations have been suspended since January this year, resulting in a decrease in the number of registrants at the Smoking Cessation Support Center from 1,352 during the same period last year to 522, a reduction of 830 people, and the registration rate compared to the target number of registrants dropped by 32.7%.

Also, since smokers are a high-risk group for COVID-19, smoking cessation support needed to be safer.

Accordingly, the district has stepped up to support residents attempting to quit smoking through a non-face-to-face method.

By applying via phone to the Seocho-gu Smoking Cessation Support Center, smokers can have 1:1 remote video counseling with a smoking cessation counselor, and if necessary, receive smoking cessation aids and behavioral items by mail, allowing them to receive the same smoking cessation support services without visiting in person. After a 6-month smoking cessation success confirmation process, participants can receive souvenirs such as electric toothbrushes and blood pressure monitors.

Since in-person counseling is difficult due to COVID-19, this service allows residents who have the will to quit smoking but find counseling difficult to receive smoking cessation counseling regardless of location, and it is expected to establish itself as an untact system suitable for the post-COVID-19 era.

It will also lower the threshold for smoking cessation opportunities for smokers who had difficulty visiting smoking cessation clinics due to social prejudice and stigma, such as women and adolescent smokers.

Applications for smoking cessation counseling are accepted at all times, and inquiries can be made by calling the Seocho-gu Smoking Cessation Support Center from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays.

Mayor Eunhee Jo stated, “Anyone considering quitting smoking can receive expert smoking cessation counseling and support with just one phone call,” and added, “I hope many people succeed in quitting smoking without losing their will due to COVID-19 and become healthier.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.