The Global Network implementation concept is a systematic approach that combines evidence-based standards with a process of self-audit to support sustained commitment and continuous improvement. The Global Standards address key elements known to be important in achieving outcomes for tobacco control and smoking cessation. Each standard is supported by implementation criteria (specific structures and processes) to help guide health services in achieving implementation and monitoring progress. Scroll down to see deatils of each of the Standards and the corresponding implementation criteria.
For resources to support implementation, go to the Resources page.
STANDARD 1- Governance & commitment
Statement: The healthcare organisation has clear and strong leadership to systematically implement a tobacco-free policy.
Like most complex health issues, quality management in the area of tobacco control and smoking cessation requires long term commitment and ongoing action to sustain improvements. This in turn requires a clear policy position, accountability for implementation and appropriate allocation of resources.
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1.1
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The healthcare organisation has clear policy documents towards the implementation of the Global Standards. |
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1.2
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The healthcare organisation prohibits the acceptance of any sponsorship or funding from the tobacco industry, as well as the sale of their products and associated devices/ e-cigarettes |
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1.3
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The healthcare organisation identifies clear accountability for all levels and aspects of policy implementation. |
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1.4
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The healthcare organisation’s staff employment documents (including subcontracts and documents with other agencies that work within the healthcare organisation) require commitment by all staff to the organisation’s tobacco-free policy. |
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1.5
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The healthcare organisation seeks relevant representation to develop and to implement a strategy and action plan based on the self-audit and policy monitoring and evaluation results. |
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1.6
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The healthcare organisation allocates the human and financial resources necessary for all aspects of policy implementation. |
STANDARD 2 - Communication
Statement: The healthcare organisation has a comprehensive communication strategy to support awareness and implementation of the tobacco-free policy and tobacco cessation services.
Communication around tobacco and smoking must address a wide range of messages, including those relating to the organisation’s commitment to a smokefree environment, the health impacts of smoking and second hand smoke and the care available to patients and staff. Communication must also reach diverse audiences including patients, visitors, staff and external stakeholders, and must be sustained to support awareness, action and accountability. The standards therefore support a comprehensive, planned and sustained communication approach.
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2.1
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Interactive and targeted media is used to communicate the organisation’s tobacco-free policy and availability of tobacco cessation services to all staff and subcontractors before and during employment. |
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2.2
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Interactive and targeted media is used to communicate the organisation’s tobacco-free policy and availability of tobacco cessation services to all service users prior to and/or on admission. |
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2.3
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Interactive and targeted media is used to communicate the organisation’s tobacco-free policy and availability of tobacco cessation services in the community including specific target groups. |
STANDARD 3 - Education & training
Statement: The healthcare organisation ensures appropriate education and training for clinical and non-clinical staff.
Education and training for health service staff builds a strong foundation for effective implementation of a smokefree policy. Service-wide training, including at induction, ensures all staff understand their responsibilities under the policy and the rationale for the policy position. This equips them to champion the health service position on smoking. The level of education for clinical staff will vary depending on their role, but all staff should be equipped to confidently and sensitively address smoking for all their patients and provide brief advice to encourage cessation. Clinicians involved in providing more detailed cessation support will require more in depth education around aspects such as motivational interviewing and pharmacotherapy.
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3.1
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Policy briefings and instruction are mandatory for all staff, including managers. |
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3.2
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The healthcare organisation ensures that all staff know how to approach tobacco, associate devices/e-cigarette users, including visitors, to inform them of the tobacco-free policy and tobacco cessation services. |
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3.3
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All clinical staff are trained in brief advice and best care measures for tobacco addiction /dependence in line with researched best practice. |
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3.4
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Key clinical staff are trained in motivational tobacco cessation techniques in line with researched best practice. |
STANDARD 4 - Clinical care
Statement: The healthcare organisation identifies all tobacco users and provides appropriate care in line with international best practice and national standards.
A systematic approach to identifying, diagnosing and managing smoking and tobacco dependence is the central clinical aspect of the Global Standards. The implementation criteria highlight the importance of workable systems and procedures to support consistent clinical practice. They also identify the key elements of information, brief intervention and treatments that are aligned with the specific needs of patients.
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4.1
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The healthcare organisation has a systematic procedure in place to identify, diagnose and document the tobacco addiction/dependence status of service users (including users of associated devices/e-cigarettes). |
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1.2
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The healthcare organisation has a systematic procedure in place to identify and document all service users including babies, children and pregnant women who are exposed to secondhand smoke/e-cigarette vapour. |
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4.3
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Information about the risk of tobacco consumption (including the use of associated devices/e-cigarettes) and tobacco cessation methods is widely available for all service users. |
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4.4
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All identified tobacco and associated devices/e-cigarette users receive brief advice in line with best researched practice. |
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4.5
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The service user’s care plan identifies and meets the needs of the tobacco and associated devices/e-cigarette user and those identified as exposed to secondhand smoke/e-cigarette vapour. |
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4.6
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The healthcare organisation has a tobacco cessation service or a referral system to a service that provides treatment for tobacco addiction/dependence in line with researched best practice. |
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4.7
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The tobacco cessation service considers the therapeutic requirements of different service-user groups (i.e. pregnancy, pre-operative, mental illness, disability) in line with researched best practice. |
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4.8
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Pharmacological support is available for the treatment of tobacco addiction/dependence, in line with researched best practice |
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4.9
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The tobacco cessation service used by the organisation follows up cessation service users in line with researched best practice. |
STANDARD 5 - Tobacco-free environment
Statement: The healthcare organisation has strategies in place to achieve a tobacco-free campus.
Commitment to a smokefee campus reflects a health organisation’s firm stance on smoking and tobacco, and acknowledgement of their active role in preventing tobacco related harm. And while it can be an ongoing challenge to achieve a completely smokefree environment, the goal of denormalising smoking is one that can remain firmly in our sights.
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5.1
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The healthcare organisation has completely tobacco-free buildings (including associated devices/e-cigarettes). |
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5.2
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The healthcare organisation has completely tobacco-free grounds and transport systems (including associated devices/e-cigarettes). |
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5.3
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The healthcare organisation has clear and unambiguous signage that defines the products prohibited and identifies boundaries for buildings and grounds of the tobacco-free campus. |
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5.4
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The healthcare organisation prohibits the sale, distribution and advertisement of tobacco products and associated devices/ e–cigarettes, anywhere within the organisation. |
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5.5
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The healthcare organisation has a procedure in place to ensure that all service users, staff and visitors are never exposed to secondhand smoke/e-cigarette vapour within the boundaries of the tobacco-free campus. |
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5.6
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Any exceptional circumstances of tobacco use by service users is managed by a procedure that is consistent with the denormalisation of tobacco. |
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5.7
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The healthcare organisation has a procedure in place to document and manage any breaches of policy including incidents of exposure of staff, service users or public to secondhand smoke/e-cigarette vapour. |
STANDARD 6 - Healthy workplace
Statement: The healthcare organisation has human resource management policies and support systems that protect and promote the health of all who work in the organisation.
Health service staff, including smokers and non-smokers, are a key focus of the Global Standards. Support for smoking cessation should be one aspect of a comprehensive staff wellbeing program. There should also be clarity around the expectations of staff to comply with the smokefree environment and consistency and clarity around the consequences of non-compliance.
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6.1
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The healthcare organisation has a comprehensive workplace health promotion programme. |
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6.2
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The healthcare organisation has policies that emphasize the pro-active and exemplary role of staff in the implementation and support of the workplace tobacco free policy. |
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6.3
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The healthcare organisation has a process in place to identify and record the health status of staff (including tobacco and associated devices/e-cigarette use); and offers appropriate help, support and treatment as necessary. |
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6.4
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The healthcare organisation has a tobacco cessation service or direct access to a cessation service for the purpose of helping their staff tobacco users to quit. |
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6.5
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The healthcare organisation has a clear procedure in place within existing local disciplinary measures to manage policy non-compliance by staff. |
STANDARD 7 - Community engagement
Statement: The healthcare organisation contributes to and promotes tobacco control/prevention in the local community according to the WHO FCTC and and/or national public health strategy.
A health service has influence far beyond its own walls, and the Global Standards identify that exercising this influence through local community engagement and collaboration is an effective way of strengthening action against smoking and tobacco.
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7.1
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The healthcare organisation works with community partners and other organisations to promote and contribute to local, national and international tobacco-free activities. |
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7.2
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The healthcare organisation works with community partners to encourage and support the users of tobacco and associated devices/e-cigarettes to quit; it takes into account the needs of specific target groups (women, adolescents, migrants, disadvantaged and other cultural groups). |
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7.3
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The healthcare organisation shares best practice to support others in the development and implementation of tobacco-free policies. |
STANDARD 8 - Monitoring & evaluation
Statement: The healthcare organisation monitors and evaluates the implementation of all the Global Standards at regular intervals
Monitoring and evaluation are central to the Global Network Concept, and are supported by the self audit and action planning processes. This standard also highlights the importance of seeking external input in this regard, and this is available through the VNSHS external validation process.
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8.1
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The healthcare organisation has internal and external review processes to monitor the implementation of all standards and takes into account feedback from staff and service users. |
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8.2
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The healthcare organisation has processes to collect key data, including the self-audit results, to inform the annual action plan and to ensure quality improvement. |
