Promoting smoking cessation in general practice.

Abstract

finds general practitioners wanting in their efforts to stop their patients smoking.' As a result of the government's banding scheme for health promotion activities in general practice we distributed a questionnaire to 6530 of our patients who attended our practice over six months. Altogether 1523 smokers were specifically asked if they would like our help in stopping smoking. A total of 365 replied affirmatively, and 100 of these were invited to attend a midweek evening meeting outlining information and help available to enable them to stop smoking. Twelve patients replied: eight accepted, three declined, and one had already stopped smoking. On the evening six smokers attended. All were counselled on a nearly one to one basis by the health professionals, who included a doctor, a health visitor, a district nurse, a practice nurse, and the district health authority's health promotion coordinator. The health professionals' view on stopping smoking was aired, and a video was shown and carbon monoxide monitoring demonstrated. The group agreed to meet one week later, when five patients attended. Two of these five have continued in their resolve to stop smoking. We are left wondering whether this operation was worthwhile in terms of its cost and the time required and whether our time might have been better used.

Randomized controlled trial of a midwife‐delivered brief smoking cessation intervention in pregnancy

“…It seems very dif cult to sustain even simple routine procedures in this area. [14][15][16] Primary care staff have other pressing priorities, and interventions with smokers can be demoralizing, as well over 90% of patients who receive any type of routine intervention will continue to smoke. In addition to this, patients may feel embarrassed and compelled to avoid their health care providers or to misreport their smoking status.…”

Smoking cessation guidelines for health professionals: an update

“…Experience from full time clinics thus far suggests that one full time specialist clinic or its equivalent is currently adequate to meet the needs of the average sized health authority (500 000 head of population) and should be able to sustain a throughput of 300–800 clients per year. Clinics serving the needs of individual GP practices have in the past been found to be unsustainable 39. However, the numbers seeking treatment from specialist services may increase as publicity surrounding the service increases, and may differ in rural and urban communities.…”

Treating nicotine dependence: the case for specialist smokers' clinics

“…Where smoking cessation counselling has been evaluated as part of a wider general practice intervention to improve life-style it has failed to produce any effect (Family Heart Study Group, 1994;ICRF OXCHECK Study Group, 1995). Regarding the primary care clinics, they are failing to attract smokers, and even when enthusiastic staff do manage to start a programme, the results are usually discouraging and the effort is soon abandoned (Turner et al, 1993).…”

“…First of all, there is the argument that m ost smokers do not want specialist help (see Lichtenstein & Hollis, 1992;Turner et al, 1993;W est, 1994). Secondly, there is argued to be insuf® cient evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of specialist smokers' clinics.…”