Skip to main content
NCBI home page
Canadian Family Physician logoLink to Canadian Family Physician
. 1984 Jan;30:160-162, 164-[165], [167].

The Role of the Family Physician in Smoking Cessation

W W Rosser
PMCID: PMC2153987  PMID: 21283503

Abstract

Two studies conducted at the Ottawa Civic Hospital Family Medicine Centre indicate that physicians are unlikely to help patients quit smoking merely by discussing cessation strategies; only highly motivated smokers who have made three to five attempts already are likely to stop smoking for a year or more. Each attempt helps the smoker to better understand the difficulties he must overcome in order to quit. A four-step program is suggested to help physicians address the problem of smoking. This program includes educating and informing the public about the dangers of smoking and second hand smoke; discussing the relationship between smoking and illness with smokers to encourage them to try quitting; low intensity intervention (e.g., support and encouragement and other simple strategies) to encourage smokers who aren't highly motivated to make an attempt to quit; and high intensity intervention (e.g., several group sessions) for patients who are highly motivated.

Full text

PDF
160

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Bossé R., Rose C. L. Age and interpersonal factors in smoking cessation. J Health Soc Behav. 1973 Dec;14(4):381–387. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Burnum J. F. Outlook for treating patients with self-destructive habits. Ann Intern Med. 1974 Sep;81(3):387–393. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-81-3-387. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Horn D. An approach to office management of the cigarette smoker. Dis Chest. 1968 Sep;54(3):203–209. doi: 10.1378/chest.54.3.203. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Mausner J. S., Mausner B., Rial W. Y. The influence of a physician on the smoking of his patients. Am J Public Health Nations Health. 1968 Jan;58(1):46–53. doi: 10.2105/ajph.58.1.46. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Morgan P. P. Time for action on passive smoking. Can Med Assoc J. 1982 Nov 1;127(9):810–811. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Porter A. M., McCullough D. M. Counselling against cigarette smoking. A controlled study from a general practice. Practitioner. 1972 Nov;209(253):686–689. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Rosen C., Ashley M. J. Smoking and the health professional: recognition and performance of roles. Can J Public Health. 1978 Sep-Oct;69(5):399–406. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Russell M. A. Cigarette dependence: II. Doctor's role in management. Br Med J. 1971 May 15;2(5758):393–395. doi: 10.1136/bmj.2.5758.393. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Russell M. A., Wilson C., Taylor C., Baker C. D. Effect of general practitioners' advice against smoking. Br Med J. 1979 Jul 28;2(6184):231–235. doi: 10.1136/bmj.2.6184.231. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Schwartz J. L. A critical review and evaluation of smoking control methods. Public Health Rep. 1969 Jun;84(6):483–506. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Stewart P. J., Rosser W. W. The impact of routine advice on smoking cessation from family physicians. Can Med Assoc J. 1982 May 1;126(9):1051–1054. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Williams H. O. Routine advice against smoking. A chest clinic pilot stdy. Practitioner. 1969 May;202(211):672–676. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Canadian Family Physician are provided here courtesy of College of Family Physicians of Canada

RESOURCES