title: Overcoming barriers to nicotine dependence treatment.
abstract: Tobacco dependence is the most overlooked and undertreated preventable cause of chronic disease in the developed world. Three barriers to effective treatment must be overcome: the reluctance of nicotine addicts to seek help; inadequate training of health professionals to treat hard core smokers; and a health care system that does not acknowledge the need for professional treatment of nicotine addiction. Effective physicians are equipped with the knowledge and skills to identify high-risk smokers who need more assistance to quit. All smokers should be engaged in a tailored office intervention based on their needs. Adoption of simple clinical protocols can eliminate the barriers that prevent effective counseling and treatment in the office setting.
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Preventive Medicine and Family Medicine, Loma Linda University Schools of Medicine and Public Health, Loma Linda, California 92350, USA. Fin02D01@aol.com
authors.forename: L H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Ferry
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D020340:Tobacco Use Cessation / Q000379:methods*; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology