More than 90 healthcare students and faculty from various colleges and universities in Qatar took part in the fourth edition of the annual Inter-professional Education (IPE) activity on smoking cessation.
Participants from Qatar University, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCMQ), University of Calgary in Qatar and College of North Atlantic-Qatar discussed various topics and issues on how to stop the unhealthy habit.
Organised by Qatar University’s (QU) Health IPE Committee, the activity included lectures, knowledge sharing and interactive activities among speakers, teachers and students.
In his lecture, QU’s College of Pharmacy associate professor of pharmacy practice Dr Ahmed Awaisu introduced students on smoking cessation, motivational interviewing and the importance of collaboration between healthcare professionals to ensure a healthier society. 
Participants also had the chance to interview to a 65-year-old smoker who was suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and later assessed his case.
“I was happy to share my knowledge and appreciation regarding acceptance of new aspects of teamwork from and with other health care providers. This activity opens new doors to the future where we, all healthcare providers, work together to benefit and provide centered care to the patient,” second-year CPH student Dhabya al-Khater said.
Second-year public health student Aisha Khalid A M al-Rumaihi said: “The IPE event was interesting and helped us understand the importance of collaboration between different health professionals with unique roles to improve patients’ outcomes through patient-centered care.”
Fourth-year student Zahra Hejji said: “To assist the patient in all perspectives and clearing out the challenges for a well-balanced health, interprofessional collaboration shall exist. Patient will need social support for other non-medical issues for example financial issues, or clarifications on medical needs, or usage of medications, or even diet. As a doctor, we shall know to whom we shall refer our patient to clear out the challenges that could alter their overall health. Patients who decide to quit smoking will need this collaboration to help them get through the struggle that could stop them from being successful quitters.”
Fourth-year UCQ student Rubeena Toufiq said he learned a lot in the IPE activity especially about the different methods that could help patients quit smoking, including options for medication.
Related Story