Survey of clinician attitudes toward smoking cessation for psychiatric and substance abusing clients.
The current study examined mental health clinician attitudes regarding smoking cessation for psychiatric and substance abusing patients. Participants included n = 15 never smokers, n = 12 former smokers, and n = 7 current smokers. There was a trend (p = 0.08) for current smokers as compared to former and never smokers to be less likely to encourage their clients to stop smoking. Overall, clinicians strongly agreed that an individual's motivation is the most important determinant of success in quitting. Clinicians were concerned that smoking cessation would initiate a relapse to substance abuse. We suggest that mental health clinicians can be instrumental in providing information, encouragement, and opportunities for their patients to attempt smoking cessation.
Program for Research in Smokers with Mental Illness (PRISM), Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06519, USA. andrea.weinberger@yale.edu
Andrea H
AH
Weinberger
Erin L
EL
Reutenauer
Jennifer C
JC
Vessicchio
Tony P
TP
George
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003155:Community Mental Health Centers; D015897:Comorbidity; D003237:Connecticut; D003469:Culture; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D010348:Patient Care Team; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000523:psychology*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome