[Feasibility of behavioural interventions for tobacco smoking cessation in routine general practice]

The aims of this study were: 1) to evaluate a training course on smoking cessation techniques offered to general practitioners of the RMB Local Health Unit (Rome, Italy) 2) to evaluate the feasibility of delivering brief counseling interventions during routine primary care practice and 3) to evaluate factors associated with modification of smoking habits. In total, 166 GPs participated in the training courses. Of these 60 GPs (36.1%) voluntarily agreed to take part in the study. A total of 3280 patients were enrolled and given a brief counseling intervention ("ask-advise"). Six months later the same patients were asked to complete a questionnaire, 24% responded. Approximately 24% of those who responded had quit smoking and over 43% had either reduced the number of cigarettes or attempted to quit. Of the subjects who modified their smoking behaviour (quit, attempted to quit, or reduced the numbers of cigarettes smoked) following the "ask-advise" intervention, 10% had also used drug therapy, while approximately 4% did so only with their doctor's assistance. Smoking cessation interventions incorporated into routine consultations in general practice are feasible and relevant from a public health perspective.