Participation of Icelandic nurses in smoking cessation counselling

The purpose of this study was to investigate the participation and knowledge of Icelandic nurses in smoking cessation counselling and to find barriers to smoking interventions by nurses.

Research has shown that clinical intervention as brief as three minutes can substantially increase smoking cessation success. Several studies have revealed that majority of nurses agree that smoking cessation counselling is within their duties. However, the percentage of nurses who report advising and/or counselling patients remains low.

An anonymous mail survey of all practicing nurses in Iceland was conducted in September 2004. A self-administered questionnaire was used, consisting of 74 questions in six sections: asking about smoking behaviour, to advise, to assess/assist/arrange, children and passive smoking, other questions and demographic questions.

Of 2453 questionnaires, 868 complete questionnaires were returned, giving a 36% response rate. While the majority of nurses 'asked' about smoking behaviour, a minority 'advised' or 'assisted' their clients with smoking cessation. However, if the clients had no smoking-related symptoms, less than half of the nurses asked about smoking behaviour. Failure to ask and advise clients about the importance of smoking cessation and assisting with smoking cessation correlated (p < 0.001) with several factors, including: lack of time, insufficient knowledge or training and not considered as a part of daily duty. Nurses who smoked were less likely to advise against smoking (p < 0.05).

Nurses frequently neglect to counsel clients about smoking cessation. Common barriers to the delivery of smoking cessation interventions by nurses include insufficient education and training in smoking cessation therapy.

The number of patients with tobacco-related illnesses is increasing worldwide. Effective smoking cessation interventions by nurses have the enormous potential of reducing smoking prevalence and improve health.