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Nicotine dependency treatment: a role for the nurse practitioner
Nurse Practitioner Forum
|March 1, 1993
Summary
Most smokers are nicotine dependent. Nurse practitioners (NPs) can aid smoking cessation by identifying patients, encouraging quitting, teaching relapse prevention, and offering follow-up support, easing withdrawal symptoms effectively.
Area of Science:
- Nursing
- Addiction Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Nicotine dependence is a primary reason many patients continue to smoke.
- Smoking cessation is a critical public health goal.
- Withdrawal symptoms present a significant barrier to quitting.
Purpose of the Study:
- To outline a standard procedure for nurse practitioners (NPs) to manage smoking cessation.
- To explore methods for alleviating nicotine withdrawal symptoms.
- To identify effective strategies for long-term smoking cessation.
Main Methods:
- Implementing a systematic approach to identify smoking patients during visits.
- Providing consistent encouragement and counseling for smoking cessation.
- Teaching patients relapse prevention techniques.
- Utilizing pharmacological therapy, such as nicotine replacement.
- Combining pharmacotherapy with behavioral counseling.
Main Results:
- A structured approach by NPs can effectively manage smoking cessation.
- Alleviating withdrawal symptoms is key to successful cessation.
- Combined pharmacological and behavioral interventions yield the best outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Nurse practitioners play a vital role in smoking cessation interventions.
- A comprehensive strategy including identification, counseling, relapse prevention, and follow-up is effective.
- The combination of nicotine replacement therapy and behavioral support is the most effective method for smoking cessation.