Nursing interventions for smoking cessation in hospitalized patients: a systematic review

This study aimed to clarify the role of nurses in planning and implementation of nursing interventions related to smoking cessation.

Nearly half of all smokers die from smoking-related illnesses. Quitting smoking can reduce these problems. Smoking cessation interventions include various types helping smokers successfully quit. Studies suggest that hospitalization can be a golden opportunity for nurses helping patients to quit smoking because of No Smoking regulations.

A systematic review of the literature was carried through Web of Knowledge, ProQuest, Medscape, MedlinePlus, Ovid SID, Magiran, PubMed, and Science Direct databases between 1990-2015 on the subject of interest by keywords: role of nursing in smoking cessation, nursing intervention in smoking cessation, smoking cessation, smoking quitting and interventions planned by nurse.

Nineteen papers were systematic examined, dealing with smoking cessation interventions by nurses. Totally, 17 studies used counselling for quitting smoking. Most studies involved other methods such as manuals, pamphlets, brochures training or printed educational materials, audio and video file. Some studies used nicotine replacement methods for patients such as nicotine skin tags, chewing nicotine or bupropion. Moreover, 17 studies were conducted by telephone at patients' follow-up after hospital discharge.

Nurses' interventions for smoking cessation play an important role in helping patients quit smoking successfully. There are a variety of interventions that nurses can employ according to the patient's condition and diagnosis of different diseases.

Quitting smoking can reduce lung cancers and other health problems. Nurses play an important role in helping patients to quit smoking.