[Non-drug aid to tobacco withdrawal]

The smokers who receive the interventions that have often been the source of information in the literature about smoking cessation represent about 4% of the population of smokers: volunteers and help-seekers. This population is not representative of the smokers seen by their doctors; smoking patients can be at any of the stages in their smoking career. But doctors can play an important role in facilitating a smokers's progression towards smoking cessation by a clear, consistent and unequivocable message not to smoke. Depending on the time available and patient desire, doctors can call upon strategies from techniques developed in cessation clinics. The number of contacts with the smoking patient to provide these strategies is the most important factor in the aid the doctor can provide.