Smoking cessation in the elderly patient.
An older smoker tends to be asked less often to quit although he or she has much to gain from achieving a nonsmoking status. Multiple barriers may interfere with attempting to quit including nicotine withdrawal, doubted self-efficacy, other smokers in one's environment, or misperceptions of little gain from quitting. The physician is in a unique position to interact with the older smoker and through careful questioning, outline a quit smoking strategy that has the greatest chance for success. Every older smoker deserves a chance for increased quality as well as quantity in life.
Cox
J L
JL
Family Practice Residency Program, Medical Center, Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania.
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008017:Life Expectancy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology