CONFERENCE PROCEEDING
Compliance with the who clinical treatment guideline for tobacco cessation in adults in Taiwan
1
Tobacco Control Division, Health Promotion Administration, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Tapei City, Taiwan
2
Deputy Director-general, Health Promotion Administration, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Tapei City, Taiwan
3
Director-General, Health Promotion Administration, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Tapei City, Taiwan
Tob. Prev. Cessation 2026;12(Supplement 1):A131
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND-AIM:
WHO published the WHO clinical treatment guideline for tobacco cessation in adults (WHO guideline) in 2024 with 9 strong recommendations and 2 conditional recommendations, because Taiwan has subsidized smoking cessation since 2002. This study aims to explore compliance with the guidelines in Taiwan.
METHODS:
This is a policy analysis of the current smoking cessation service policy in Taiwan. Compliance with the WHO guidelines was measured in terms of its payment scheme and review criteria that facilitate the implementation of evidence-based practices recommended by the WHO.
RESULTS:
In Taiwan, tobacco users who are interested in quitting can have at least 2 and at most 3 medication courses (for smokers who are at least 18 years of age) and health education courses every year without any charge. Providers are recommended to prescribe medication and health education courses simultaneously. Healthcare providers can prescribe NRT, varenicline, and bupropion according to the patient’s situation. Combination NRT and Bupropion combination with NRT is also allowed. To provide more comprehensive chronic disease care, we have integrated smoking cessation services into the metabolic syndrome prevention plan with add-on pay for those providing smoking cessation services for the first time and performing well on outcome indicators. Health-care facilities are also encouraged to include tobacco use status and use of tobacco cessation interventions in their medical records through recognizing tobacco-free hospitals and awarding excellent smoking cessation facilities. Quitline offers basic smoking cessation consultations through LINE, the only digital tobacco cessation service provided by the government. Besides, many healthcare facilities in Taiwan have developed their own apps or LINE services that could enhance the effectiveness of these interventions. Since smokeless tobacco is not widely used in Taiwan, we do not provide smoking cessation services directly to these users; however, we do not exclude dual or multiple tobacco users from receiving this service.
CONCLUSIONS:
Taiwan has been highly compliant with WHO guideline, but still has to extend services to other kinds of tobacco users and develop more digital modalities to support self-management.
WHO published the WHO clinical treatment guideline for tobacco cessation in adults (WHO guideline) in 2024 with 9 strong recommendations and 2 conditional recommendations, because Taiwan has subsidized smoking cessation since 2002. This study aims to explore compliance with the guidelines in Taiwan.
METHODS:
This is a policy analysis of the current smoking cessation service policy in Taiwan. Compliance with the WHO guidelines was measured in terms of its payment scheme and review criteria that facilitate the implementation of evidence-based practices recommended by the WHO.
RESULTS:
In Taiwan, tobacco users who are interested in quitting can have at least 2 and at most 3 medication courses (for smokers who are at least 18 years of age) and health education courses every year without any charge. Providers are recommended to prescribe medication and health education courses simultaneously. Healthcare providers can prescribe NRT, varenicline, and bupropion according to the patient’s situation. Combination NRT and Bupropion combination with NRT is also allowed. To provide more comprehensive chronic disease care, we have integrated smoking cessation services into the metabolic syndrome prevention plan with add-on pay for those providing smoking cessation services for the first time and performing well on outcome indicators. Health-care facilities are also encouraged to include tobacco use status and use of tobacco cessation interventions in their medical records through recognizing tobacco-free hospitals and awarding excellent smoking cessation facilities. Quitline offers basic smoking cessation consultations through LINE, the only digital tobacco cessation service provided by the government. Besides, many healthcare facilities in Taiwan have developed their own apps or LINE services that could enhance the effectiveness of these interventions. Since smokeless tobacco is not widely used in Taiwan, we do not provide smoking cessation services directly to these users; however, we do not exclude dual or multiple tobacco users from receiving this service.
CONCLUSIONS:
Taiwan has been highly compliant with WHO guideline, but still has to extend services to other kinds of tobacco users and develop more digital modalities to support self-management.
| eISSN: | 2459-3087 |
We process personal data collected when visiting the website. The function of obtaining information about users and their behavior is carried out by voluntarily entered information in forms and saving cookies in end devices. Data, including cookies, are used to provide services, improve the user experience and to analyze the traffic in accordance with the Privacy policy. Data are also collected and processed by Google Analytics tool (more).
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
