Great American Smokeout is Nov. 19

Posted on: 11/13/20

The Great American Smokeout (GASO) is a tobacco cessation awareness event that occurs annually on the third Thursday in November. Initiated by the American Cancer Society in the 1970s, the event challenges smokers to quit smoking for that day in hopes that it will prompt them to quit for good. We are encouraging your hospital and clinics to use the GASO as an opportunity for health care providers to talk to their patients about their tobacco use. 

Health care providers can have a tremendous positive impact on their patients’ journey in quitting tobacco. Tobacco users who receive a clinical cessation consult from their health care provider are twice as likely to successfully quit vs. those who do not. Screening patients for tobacco use and following evidence-based treatment guidelines for cessation can be done by providers at all levels. Hospitals that engage their communities in events like GASO help share cessation education, resources, and support to those who need it most. Additionally, OHA has developed a toolkit to assist our hospitals with hosting tobacco screening events for their employees. Resources are available for download. 

OHA’s Hospitals Helping Patients Quit (HHPQ), a grant program of TSET, is encouraging all hospitals to take part in GASO on Nov. 19. HHPQ has compiled a toolkit and would like to support your hospital’s GASO event. For support with GASO or anything related to tobacco cessation, please reach out to your HHPQ representative or email [email protected], (405) 427-9537.