Win! Convinced a healthcare professional about E-cigs in one conversation!

[Seigun]

Well... I should say that it was my mom. But my mom and I don't agree on very much.

In any case, it happened like this:

A few days ago, my parents were watching ABC news, and there was a section on e-cigarettes. Of course, it pretty much went into "but nicotine is a known addictive substance, therefore they can't be all that great" argument, given by an anti- smoking rep.
(Yay reporting inaccuracies...) Also, the story implied that e-cigs were being marketed toward children because of their many flavors.

My mom, who is a nurse practitioner (a practicing nurse since the beginning of her career in her very early 20's, and now teaches nursing going on maybe 6 years or more...so, in the healthcare field since the 70's, and still going strong) works at a rural health clinic. She stopped to watch the section and wondered out lout what the "E" stood for. I explained it to her, and then explained everything else.


By the time I was done, mom thought e-cigs for analog smokers were the best thing since sliced bread. Everyone, find a healthcare professional in your circle! Time to start spreading the word.

Working where she does, I know she has a ton of chain smokers who come to see her. I also know there are a lot of chain smokers among her nursing students and fellow staff... So her enthusiasm about it all makes me happy.

 

[FloydianSlip]

That is a great "win" on your part! Well done!

 

[KevinW]

Great story. We all need to do our part in vaping and this is proof. I see (far too many times) people talking about "it's my right" and "I don't care what others think" and being all in non-vaping / non-smoking people's faces about it like they just don't care. But the fact of the matter is WE ALL SHOULD. Taking the time to help explain and educate those that are able / want to understand is the best place to start. Yes, there will always be those closed minded people that we can't help but if we focus on the ones we can get to listen and remain "good neighbors" about vaping then the better the chance we will have our vaping freedoms intact for the future.

Very nice work and story!!!

 

[BlueMoods]

That's great, and she is right, if the only thing that works for a person is smoking, then odds are vaping will work to replace smoking and, though it might not be 100% healthy, it is healthier than smoking. How many do you read about here that have lowered their nicotine over the months or years of vaping? A lot, and many are heading for 0 nic. Intentional or not vaping is very good a weaning people off of nicotine or, at least to needing a lower level of nicotine.

 

[Seigun]

That's great, and she is right, if the only thing that works for a person is smoking, then odds are vaping will work to replace smoking and, though it might not be 100% healthy, it is healthier than smoking. How many do you read about here that have lowered their nicotine over the months or years of vaping? A lot, and many are heading for 0 nic. Intentional or not vaping is very good a weaning people off of nicotine or, at least to needing a lower level of nicotine.

Exactly! That was the point at which my mom lit right up.

 

[CookingWithGuns]

I've yet to meet a doctor who didn't think E-Cigs were many times better for you than analogs. Every practicing doctor (that doesn't include the MDs doing research or PhDs) I know actually recommends them to smokers.

 

[Griff.J]

this marketing to children fear mongering pisses me off.. I do watch cartoons once in a while on a Saturday morning and I really can't recall seeing e-cigarette adds running along side the sugar cereal ads and Barbie doll ads. But fine lets remove all flavour from e-juice and then it'll be alright, I'll just buy flavourings elsewhere stupid people need to be slapped. Not the OP, I mean. you know, the stupid people. heh.

 

[Hoofhearted62]

WIN, I am one of only a few people at work that vape. the others use blu or a v2. when they see my gear its a great conversation starter. and I think I am convincing a few heavy smokers away from the dark side.

 

[knitcrotatter]

What a great story, thanks! Congrats on a win!

 

[Coastal Cowboy]

Healthcare professionals can't yet officially recommend e-cigs because they are not therapeutic. Depending on the laws of the state in which they practice, doing so could result in them losing their license.

Example: Physician recommends switching to electronic cigarettes to a patient. Patient does so and contracts lung cancer anyway. Patient sues for malpractice.

Engineers, accountants, attorneys and other professionals also work within their Standards of Practice. SoP's are means of professional self-regulation. Usually, when you see a healthcare professional interviewed regarding e-cig use, you will see them providing both sides. They will likely point out that while e-cigs appear to be much safer than smoking, there is very little clinical research yet on the risks associated with them (both are truths). And they will stop short of saying that smokers SHOULD switch.

Rather, they might say something like mine did: "If you're serious about quitting smoking, they're worthy of your consideration, as are the patches, gum and other approved NRT's."

 

[wv2win]

My doctor was very pleased that I switched to vaping.

 

[rd2ruin]

Healthcare professionals can't yet officially recommend e-cigs because they are not therapeutic. Depending on the laws of the state in which they practice, doing so could result in them losing their license.

Example: Physician recommends switching to electronic cigarettes to a patient. Patient does so and contracts lung cancer anyway. Patient sues for malpractice.
"

Sadly, as cynical as this sounds, it's 100% accurate.

 

[Coastal Cowboy]

Sadly, as cynical as this sounds, it's 100% accurate.

The really sad thing is that the doctor could prescribe Chantix or Zyban for the patient. If the patient then gives into the suicidal tendencies side effect, there's no recourse against the physician because he operated within the accepted standards of practice. If he recommended patches or gum, the same would be true.

That doesn't mean a professional can talk to patients about e-cigs and share the information that he has, explaining both benefits and potential risks. As long as he does this over the full range of options, he's operating within the SoP under the notion that he's helping the patient make informed decisions.

So it still makes sense to proselytize.

 

[Coastal Cowboy]

Saw this in another thread on a media report.

Cardiologist Gavin M. Leask of Pee Dee Cardiology Associates has seen the growing prevalence of e-cigarettes in general and from the vantage point of his medical practice. “I certainly have many patients who have used [or] are using them,” he says. “I am aware of several of my patients who have quit smoking using them as an aid.”

Leask points to the fact that there is not much solid evidence yet as to the effectiveness or benefits of these products. “My personal bias and what I tell my patients is that there is little, if any, scientific data confirming their safety or efficacy but intuitively I believe they make sense. I advise my patients to consider trying them if approved aids to quitting have failed. I also emphasize that they should be used as a weaning process with the end point being total tobacco avoidance.”

And for those who actually lay down traditional cigarettes, Leask says that they are already reaping the physical and psychological benefits of quitting smoking. “I believe with time the devices will become a cornerstone of smoking cessation programs as the devices are studied further and more safety data is obtained.”

GETTING THE VAPERS? | News and Views | Myrtle Beach Weekly Surge

Notice how the good doctor explains both the benefits and the relative lack of information, and even uses the same phraseology my doc did when I said I should "consider" vaping.