The service originally began as individualised meetings with a Marathon Health Primary Health Care Nurse. These individualised meetings have since turned into a weekly meeting with people coming together to share experiences, tips, stories and motivational tools to help combat smoking.

“Initially it was a client who requested the smoking cessation group and once established, the group decided to hold the weekly meetings,” Primary Health Care Nurse at Marathon Health, Nichole Callan, said.

“They felt that by having peers around them, it created a more personal quitting environment where they could all share strategies and support each other. They’re able to set goals and encourage each other to achieve them. Sustaining these meetings and creating an open, supportive environment, is one of the contributing factors to this group’s success.”

Ms Callan commenced the smoking cessation group in August 2016 and has seen many positive results from all members.

“The group has had fantastic success with every participant reducing their Carbon Monoxide levels which is measured using a smokerlyzer. We even have one participant who has ceased smoking entirely,” Ms Callan said.

The smokerlyzer is a key motivational tool for the group. The average non-smoker when blowing into the smokerlyzer should be blowing between the levels of 0 - 6. The average smoker who smokes a pack a day can blow a staggering difference of 35+.

The program’s success has brought about new incentives that allow all members of the Marathon Health Smoking Cessation Program to have access to free samples of Oral Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT). 

Marathon Health also offers smoking cessation services to Narromine, Gwabegar, Gilgandra, Gulargambone, Coolah, Dunedoo, Mendooran and Warren.

For more information about Marathon Health services and Smoking Cessation, contact our office on 02 6826 5200 or visit our website: www.marathonhealth.com.au.