title: The role of the family physician in smoking cessation.
abstract: Two studies conducted at the Ottawa Civic Hospital Family Medicine Centre indicate that physicians are unlikely to help patients quit smoking merely by discussing cessation strategies; only highly motivated smokers who have made three to five attempts already are likely to stop smoking for a year or more. Each attempt helps the smoker to better understand the difficulties he must overcome in order to quit. A four-step program is suggested to help physicians address the problem of smoking. This program includes educating and informing the public about the dangers of smoking and second hand smoke; discussing the relationship between smoking and illness with smokers to encourage them to try quitting; low intensity intervention (e.g., support and encouragement and other simple strategies) to encourage smokers who aren't highly motivated to make an attempt to quit; and high intensity intervention (e.g., several group sessions) for patients who are highly motivated.
authors.forename: W W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Rosser