Wisconsin physicians advising smokers to quit: results from the Current Population Survey, 1998-1999 and Behavioral...

Physicians advising their patients to quit smoking has been recognized as an effective component of smoking cessation treatment, yet evidence suggests that physicians are not consistently providing this type of counseling.

Data from both the Current Population Survey's (CPS) Tobacco Use Supplements administered September 1998, January 1999, and May 1999 and from the 2000 Behavioral Risk Factor Survey System (BRFSS) were analyzed and compared. The weighted proportions and 95% confidence intervals of Wisconsin and US smokers who had seen a physician in the past year and reported receiving advice from them to quit smoking were calculated. Proportions were analyzed for the total population as well as for subgroups of gender, age, race, educational level, and income level.

CPS data showed that Wisconsin smokers who had seen a physician in the past year were significantly more likely to receive smoking cessation advice from their physician (64%) compared to US smokers (59%). Though not significant, a similar trend was seen in the BRFSS data. There were no consistent significant differences in rates analyzed by gender, age, race, educational level, or income level.

Data from the CPS and BRFSS show that less than two thirds of Wisconsin smokers are receiving smoking cessation advice from their physicians. Increasing physician counseling of patients who smoke continues to be a priority public health goal for decreasing morbidity and mortality from tobacco-related illnesses.