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Altering risk in patients who smoke
J Lee Westmaas1, Thomas H Brandon, Joseph Lokitis
1Department of Psychology, State University of New York-Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY 11794-2500, USA.
Respiratory Care Clinics of North America
|August 13, 2003
Summary
Quitting smoking is hard, but effective interventions significantly increase success rates. Even small improvements in sustained abstinence offer major public health benefits and reduce smoking-related illnesses.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Addiction Medicine
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Smoking cessation is challenging, with low spontaneous quit rates.
- Smoking imposes significant health and societal costs.
- Multiple attempts are often needed for sustained abstinence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the efficacy of smoking cessation interventions.
- To highlight the role of healthcare practitioners in aiding cessation.
- To emphasize the public health impact of increased abstinence rates.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing psychosocial and pharmacological interventions for smoking cessation.
- Analysis of abstinence rates reported in smoking cessation studies.
- Examination of the potential impact of clinician-initiated treatments.
Main Results:
- Psychosocial and pharmacological interventions substantially increase smoking abstinence rates.
- Even modest increases in abstinence yield significant public health benefits.
- Clinician involvement can motivate smokers and improve cessation outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Effective interventions are crucial for overcoming smoking addiction.
- Pulmonary medicine specialists can play a key role in reducing smoking-related morbidity and mortality.
- Every quit attempt, supported by effective treatments, is a step towards sustained abstinence.