Initial experience of McMaster SmokeStop. Smoking Cessation Clinic at McMaster Family Practice Unit

There are very few smoking cessation resources in the community, and many family physicians have not incorporated smoking cessation counseling into their practices. Yet many smokers are interested in individual assistance to stop smoking. McMaster SmokeStop is a unique smoking cessation program that operates within the Family Practice Unit at McMaster University Medical Centre. The program has been in operation since October 1994. Additional clinics have been established at three other Hamilton hospitals and a community health centre in the past year.

To assist people to change smoking behaviour by quitting, cutting down, or making progress toward quitting as manifested by an advance in stage of change using the Prochaska and DiClemente model. The program was established in response to requests from various health care providers who wanted to refer difficult and challenging smoking patients.

Using an individual counseling approach, the program assists smokers with the use of reflective listening and support as well as, when indicated, acupuncture, nicotine patch, nicotine gum, stress management, and behaviour modification. Thirty to 60 minutes are allowed for initial appointments and 15 to 30 minutes for follow-up appointments.

The program has become a popular resource for health care providers in the community who refer difficult smoking patients. Because of increasing numbers of smokers who wish to attend, the clinics have expanded considerably.