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Motivation for smoking cessation: what role do doctors play?
1Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Berne. eckert@ispm.unibe.ch
Swiss Medical Weekly
|December 1, 2001
Summary
Physicians frequently ask patients about smoking but rarely advise them to quit. Brief physician advice significantly increases smokers' desire to quit, highlighting a missed opportunity in smoking cessation efforts.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Medical Practice
- Smoking Cessation
Background:
- Cigarette smoking contributes significantly to mortality in Switzerland.
- Physicians can accelerate smoking cessation through brief interventions.
- Understanding physician-patient interactions regarding smoking is crucial for public health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine how often Swiss smokers are asked about smoking habits by physicians.
- To assess the frequency of physician-led advice to quit smoking.
- To examine the correlation between physician advice and patients' desire to quit.
Main Methods:
- Conducted telephone interviews with 993 smokers and ex-smokers in German-speaking Switzerland.
- Collected data on demographics, smoking behaviors, and recall of physician advice.
- Employed descriptive analysis and logistic regression for data interpretation.
Main Results:
- 88% of patients recalled being asked about smoking; only 34% recalled being advised to quit.
- Certain demographics (women, older individuals, those in poor health) were asked more frequently.
- Heavier smokers and those in poor health received advice more often, and advice correlated with a greater desire to quit.
Conclusions:
- Physician advice on smoking cessation is provided infrequently in Switzerland, mirroring international trends.
- Health professionals should be encouraged to consistently inquire about smoking, advise cessation, and motivate patients.
- Systematic physician intervention is needed to improve smoking cessation rates.