Smoking is the number one preventable cause of death.\u00a0 Recent quitting smoking statistics suggest 70% of smokers want to quit and 7% will be successful on their first time.\u00a0 On average, smokers make between 8-11 quit attempts before successfully quitting.\u00a0 The more they try to quit, the more likely they will be successful.\u00a0 A comprehensive approach of behavioral counseling, medications, and motivational support is the most effective method to help someone remain abstinent on tobacco.\u00a0 As healthcare providers, we can play a significant role every day in helping anyone who wants to stop smoking quit this deadly addiction.<\/p>\n
Healthcare providers should take advantage of each contact they have with a smoker to help and encourage them to quit.\u00a0 \u00a0Whether the identified smoker is at the doctor\u2019s office for a routine exam or at the pharmacy to pick up their refill, the healthcare provider should use this opportunity to assess their readiness for change and help move them from thinking about quitting to taking the first step to quit.\u00a0 Motivational Interview is an excellent patient-centered technique that uses empathy to engage patients on identifying their readiness, willingness, and ability to change.\u00a0 Simply providing the patient with a prescription for Chantix or nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) when the patient is not ready to change is unlikely to produce a successful outcome.<\/p>\n
Once the patient is ready to quit, it is important to avoid delays and begin formulating a smoking cessation plan.\u00a0 The provider can help the patient develop a plan that should include setting a target quit date, gathering social and family support, having strategies to avoid triggers, and selecting an appropriate therapy if needed.\u00a0 Action begins on the quit date.<\/p>\n
When the patient quits smoking, it is important to continue the support and positive reinforcement.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0As mentioned above, only 7% of smokers who try to quit will be successful on their first attempt.\u00a0 The majority of smokers will require numerous tries before they will be successful.\u00a0 As providers, we can be their biggest cheerleader by celebrating any milestones they achieved in their quit attempt, as well as encouraging and supporting them when they encounter a setback.\u00a0 In addition to the moral support, we must not forget to monitor and assess their smoking cessation medication therapy and provide interventions when medication issues occur.\u00a0 For example, consider what you would do if the patient tells you that the nicotine patch they are wearing seems to work because they now smoke less cigarettes per day or they only take their Chantix when they have the urge to smoke.\u00a0 When we identify situations where medications are not used appropriately, it is important to step in and educate the patient on how to take their medications properly so it can maximize their chances of a successful quit attempt.<\/p>\n
Helping a smoker quit smoking is one of the best things we can do for our patients.\u00a0 It not only reduces health risks for tobacco-related consequences, but it also helps the patient and those around them stay healthy.\u00a0 As healthcare providers, we are our patients\u2019 biggest coaches and fans and we\u2019ll be there to cheer for them to keep quitting<\/em> so that they can keep winning <\/em>for the rest of their lives.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Smoking is the number one preventable cause of death.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1885","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n