Smoking cessation for the hospitalized cardiac patient: rationale for and report of a model program

Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States, and smoking-related diseases are involved in more than one third of all hospital admissions. Smoking cessation has immediate and major health benefits for all individuals. Studies have demonstrated that a substantial reduction in mortality and morbidity can be achieved by abstinence from smoking. Interventions to reduce smoking must become a priority for health care providers, as physicians and nurses have the opportunity to interact with millions of smokers each year. The purpose of this article is to outline intervention strategies that nurses can use with smokers to encourage compliance with hospital smoking policies and to facilitate long-term abstinence from smoking.