A survey of physicians' views and practices on patient education for smoking cessation

A two-wave panel survey of physicians in southeastern Pennsylvania assessed the smoking intervention strategies physicians use with their patients, their intention to prescribe nicotine chewing gum (Nicorette), and their subsequent prescribing of Nicorette. The most frequently employed health education strategies were counseling, counseling in combination with written materials or referral, and recommendation to stop smoking, with significant differences among specialty groups. Most of the responding physicians (87%) were aware of nicotine chewing gum; of those aware, 71% reported an intention to prescribe it for their patients who smoke. Physicians' prescription patterns differed by specialty: family practitioners were most inclined to prescribe Nicorette. Forty-seven percent of physicians had no follow-up data on the patients for whom they had prescribed Nicorette. The survey data reported here demonstrate that physicians are willing to adopt a new smoking cessation practice. The challenge is to incorporate this practice into a cost-effective smoking cessation intervention which can be integrated into the routine of patient care.