The whys and wherefores of getting patients to give up smoking

Smoking-related diseases are responsible for the majority of premature deaths in industrialized societies. It is 50 years since the link between smoking and lung cancer was first established, since when a gradually increasing number of smoking-related illnesses have been identified. The treatment of patients suffering smoking-related illnesses consumes a large proportion of health care budgets. The ever-increasing costs of health care, in part due to the advent of new therapeutic techniques, could be offset by a concerted effort to reduce the number of people smoking. Various strategies, particularly if used in combination, have been shown to produce acceptable smoking cessation rates. At present there appears to be a reluctance on the part of governments to fund a concerted, co-ordinated programme to encourage and assist people to stop smoking. In the absence of such support it is important for all health professionals to provide sensible advice and support to help their patients to stop smoking.