[Smoking cessation--a "must have" in medical curricula. The European HERMES project--a supportive argument]

Respiratory Medicine is a complex domain of activity, moreover has enlarged its content in last decades by numerous areas of expertise, among which also smoking cessation, a field aiming to assist individuals to quit or prevent tobacco use. Introducing routinely this preoccupation in Romanian doctors' work is supposed to legitimate nicotine dependence as a disease, as already classified by world medical organizations. In agreement with HERMES project, an European Respiratory Society initiative to harmonize education in respiratory medicine across Europe, we recommend smoking cessation to be mandatory in Romanian medical curricula. Thus, students will earn theoretical, practical and behavioral skills to approach health effects of tobacco use, treatment and approach of smokers. Yet, considering real life situation in our country, for actual generations of practitioners we suggest intensive training in two modules: a basic one to cover lack of elementary knowledge during previous years and an advanced module for specialists. To future generations, a continuous, more coherent approach is to be settled, aiming to create brief advice expertise during medical university years of study. When graduating, future doctors willing to become smoking cessation experts will be provided postgraduate training to achieve this degree. Hopefully, within next two generations, many Romanian doctors will become capable to routinely deliver smoking cessation interventions, at European standards.