The use of the nicotine inhaler in smoking cessation.
OBJECTIVE
To raise awareness among nurse practitioners (NPs) about the nicotine inhaler by providing clinical and practical information about the use of the nicotine inhaler as a treatment option for smoking cessation.


METHODS
This included data-based and review articles in the medical literature, tobacco use and dependence clinical practice guideline, and Medline and Cinahl search engines. Criteria for search keywords were "nicotine inhaler" and "nicotine replacement therapy." Initial search was done in December 2004.


CONCLUSIONS
The nicotine inhaler has been tested as safe and efficacious in the treatment of tobacco cessation. Clinical trials show the nicotine inhaler to be useful alone or as an adjunct to other pharmacological therapies. Current national guidelines recommend that the nicotine inhaler be used in smoking cessation therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
The nicotine inhaler is appropriate for many different smokers, including certain types of cardiac patients. NPs can include the nicotine inhaler in a group of nicotine replacement therapies to ensure that smokers are successful in tobacco cessation.
Burkett
Jenny Sigel
JS
National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, MD 20889, USA. jsigburkett@yahoo.com
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003376:Counseling; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers; D009538:Nicotine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009722:Nurse Practitioners; D024802:Nurse's Role; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D018579:Patient Selection; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods*; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018722:Nicotinic Agonists; D009538:Nicotine