Provision of smoking cessation counseling by general practitioners assisted by training and screening procedure.
OBJECTIVE
To examine which counseling behavior among GPs can be achieved after counseling training when organizational support is provided.


METHODS
A random sample of 39 general practices was drawn, 34 took part. GPs received a pre-study assessment followed by a training session for smoking counseling. All patients showing up during a period of 1 week were asked about smoking status. Current smokers, aged 18-70 years were eligible (N=551), 81.8% participated. A documentation sheet, filled in by a study nurse transferred smoking-related information about patient to the GP. GPs were advised to fill in a post-counseling assessment for every patient. A post-study assessment with the GPs was conducted.


RESULTS
Frequent barriers for smoking counseling were lack of time and the assumption that patients were not motivated to quit. The GP's documented smoking counseling in 96.0%. The patients (87.8%) could be thoroughly counseled. Younger age of the GP, a high number of patients and the contemplation stage quitting smoking were predictors for realizing counseling. 79.3% of the GPs assessed the procedure to be practicable.


CONCLUSIONS
Smoking counseling in the general practice is feasible.


CONCLUSIONS
Involving staff in the screening procedure may support counseling activity of the GP.
Institute of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University of Greifswald, Walther-Rathenau-Str. 48, 17487 Greifswald, Germany. ulbricht@uni-greifswald.de
Sabina
S
Ulbricht
Christian
C
Meyer
Anja
A
Schumann
Hans-Jürgen
HJ
Rumpf
Ulfert
U
Hapke
Ulrich
U
John
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003142:Communication; D003376:Counseling / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010819:Physician's Role / Q000523:psychology; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000458:organization & administration; D015397:Program Evaluation; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors