PROMOTING TOBACCO CESSATION IN PRIMARY CARE PRACTICE

Tobacco use is a serious health problem for one in four primary care patients; smoking among young people is an even greater problem. Each year, more than 400,000 people die from tobacco-related diseases. Tobacco cessation interventions offer clinicians and other health care providers their greatest opportunity to improve the current and future health of the American Therefore, promoting tobacco cessation is an important part of the work of clinicians and staff in primary care practice. This article outlines the most effective strategies for clinicians and office staff members to actively help patients quit using tobacco. Although prevention of tobacco use is an important counseling issue for young patients, it is beyond the scope of this article to address primary prevention.