Struggling to quit smoking? QuitASAP is a groundbreaking tool that helps doctors diagnose nicotine addiction and create personalized treatment plans in minutes. Read on to find out how it’s changing smoking cessation for the better.
WORDS LIM TECK CHOON
 FEATURED EXPERTDR TAKDIR SINGH RIAR Head of Smoking Cessation Unit Klinik Kesihatan Tanglin |
WHY QUITTING SMOKING IS HARDER THAN IT SHOULD BE
For years, doctors and healthcare professionals have struggled with a significant challenge: helping patients quit smoking efficiently.
While there are treatments available such as nicotine replacement therapy or NRT and counselling, many general practitioners lack the time and tools to diagnose nicotine addiction properly during routine consultations.
This often leads to delays, as patients must be referred to specialized smoking cessation clinics before starting treatment.
Recognizing this gap, Dr Takdir Singh Riar set out to change the landscape of smoking cessation with a powerful digital tool: QuitASAP.
WHAT IS QUITASAP?
- QuitASAP is a web-based application designed to streamline the smoking cessation process for healthcare professionals.
- The platform enables doctors to assess nicotine addiction in under 5 minutes and generate a personalized treatment plan on the spot.
- It provides a structured approach to smoking cessation that combines evidence-based assessment tools with practical treatment recommendations.
“Our goal is to ensure that any healthcare provider can initiate treatment for nicotine addiction as easily as they would for conditions like asthma, diabetes, or hypertension,” Dr Takdir explains.
HOW DOES QUITASAP WORK?
At its core, QuitASAP simplifies smoking cessation by offering:
Nicotine Addiction Assessment and Management Tools
- The Fagerström test for nicotine dependence to determine addiction severity.
- A daily nicotine intake analysis calculator to quantify consumption levels.
- A stage of change assessment tool to identify a patient’s readiness to quit.
- A personalized treatment plan generator that recommends appropriate interventions, including NRTs and medication.
Comprehensive Resource Hub
- A knowledge base for healthcare providers with counselling aids, best practices, and pharmacological guidelines.
- It helps to ensure consistent and effective treatment.
WHY QUITASAP IS A GAME-CHANGER
For healthcare professionals, QuitASAP offers three key advantages:
#1 Faster Diagnoses and Immediate Treatment
- No need for referrals. Doctors can assess and treat patients in the same visit.
- Plans can be generated in less than 3 minutes, reducing patient wait times.
#2 Standardized and Evidence-Based Treatment
- The tool is built on a proprietary algorithm reviewed by experts, ensuring all recommendations align with the latest research.
#3 Wider Accessibility and Adoption
- QuitASAP is usable on mobile devices, tablets, and computers, making it accessible in various healthcare settings.
- It is already in use across 20 clinics in Kuala Lumpur, with expansion to other states and international institutions.
FROM CONCEPT TO LAUNCH
Dr Takdir’s journey in nicotine addiction treatment began long before QuitASAP.
His clinic in Klinik Kesihatan Tanglin has been at the forefront of smoking cessation since 2005, often training other institutions on best practices.
Constraints and Limitations
However, due to constraints in manpower and resources, he saw the need for a scalable solution.
“Many clinics and hospitals wanted training, but we simply couldn’t accommodate them all. That’s when we realized that we needed to package our expertise into something that could be used anywhere,” Dr Takdir recalls.
Necessity Drives Invention
By collaborating with a multidisciplinary team, QuitASAP was developed as the first algorithm-driven smoking cessation tool of its kind.
Despite the challenges that come with any new healthcare technology, adoption has been overwhelmingly positive.
“There weren’t major roadblocks. Healthcare providers were eager to use it because they finally had a tool that made nicotine addiction treatment simple and accessible,” Dr Takdir shares with us.
MAKING A REAL IMPACT BY HELPING PATIENTS QUIT
While formal studies are still ongoing, early reports on the usage of QuitASAP suggest a remarkable improvement in smoking cessation success rates.
“At clinics using QuitASAP, we’ve seen quit rates double and even triple compared to traditional methods,” says Dr Takdir. “It’s incredibly rewarding to witness more patients successfully quitting!”
He adds: “We also have international universities coming for training in this field who are using the tool. One recent example was San Pedro University sending their students for training and attachment under our team.”
QuitASAP has won several awards and appreciations, both on the national and international stage. Some of the notable ones are:
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EVOLVING TO EMPOWER HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS AND PATIENTS
Looking ahead, QuitASAP is set to evolve even further.
“We’re working on a 3.0 version, which we hope to launch by the end of the year,” Dr Takdir says with pride.
With its growing adoption in Malaysia and beyond, QuitASAP is proving that digital solutions are the future of smoking cessation. By empowering healthcare professionals with quick and reliable tools, it is helping patients kick the habit faster than ever before.
| This article is part of our series on research-based innovations in smoking cessation methods. |
