title: Effect of a GP desktop resource on smoking cessation activities of general practitioners.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate an intervention aimed at increasing the quantity and quality of brief opportunistic general practitioner (GP) advice to smokers encouraging and supporting quit attempts.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized controlled trial with two groups: (1) control and (2) GP desktop resource (GDR). Smoking cessation activities of GPs were assessed by an independent postal survey 1 month after distribution of resource.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and seven GPs in West Dorset.
  
  
  METHODS
  GPs' self-reported rates of advising and counselling smokers on cessation over the previous week.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The rate of opportunistic advice per week in the GDR group was 4.9 (SD = 4.1), compared with 2.8 (SD = 1.8) in the control group, F = 8.2, p = 0.0025, one-tailed. The rate of giving counselling was also higher 2.2 (SD = 3.2) in the intervention group versus 1.0 (SD = 1.4) in the control group, F = 4.0), p = 0.025, one-tailed. The proportion who had recommended or prescribed NRT was greater, although not significantly (54%, versus 46%, Fisher's exact p = 0.1, one-tailed).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings indicate that the GDR can increase the rate of delivery of opportunistic advice and provision of counselling. Given the importance of this activity, a larger trial appears to be warranted to examine the long-term effect and the effect on cessation rates in patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, St George's Hospital Medical School, London, UK. amcewen@sghms.ac.uk
authors.forename: Andy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McEwen
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Preston
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: West
mesh_terms: D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods; D005194:Family Practice / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D010174:Pamphlets; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods*