Doctors advice to smokers

I was prompted to write this blog for a couple of reasons.
The first was Heather and I had been discussing the role of spirometry for all smokers over 45 years old. This can show signs of early COPD and be a powerful incentive to quit. A few years ago now I worked as a quit facilitator and in the courses a peak flow meter and norms for their age were used as a means to show smokers the damage they were doing.

The second was that in the news this week Barack Obama latest medical was made public (apparently the public has a right to this normally confidential information as the status of his health may affect the way he governs). One of the pieces of advice that has given to the leader of the USA by his doctor was to quit smoking (it was a little know fact that he smoked).

A study by the Centre for Behavioural Research in Cancer that was prepared for Quit Victoria looked at Doctors advise to their patients about smoking: 2004.

Previously research has demonstrated that advice from health professional, even during brief interventions can be effective in encouraging quitting smoking.

Since the introduction of guidelines under the five A's model (Ask, Assess, Advise, Assist and Arrange) it was reported that advice to stop smoking increased from 11% to 37% (between 1990-1998).

The 2004 report looked at the experiences of smokers and those who had recently quit who had visited the Gp in the last 12 months; whether their doctor asked about their smoking behaviours and if so whether they were given advice to quit and if on receiving this advice it was associated with attempts to quit and motivation to quit.

The results showed that 73% of Victorian adults, who were either current smokers or who had quit within the past 12 months, were asked by their GP whether they smoked. Smokers aged between 30-49 years (75%) and those who smoked 15 cigarettes or more per day were most likely to be given advice on ways to quit smoking by their GP.

Respondents were most likely to be recommended to cut down their smoking (57%) and also given information regarding the use of NRT (30%), followed by other advice (21%). Advice to call the quit line was given to only 13% of respondents.

The respondents that received advice were more motivated to quit with over half reporting they were seriously considering quitting in the next 6 months, compared with those who had not received advice.

It is evident smokers are being asked about their smoking status and that advice from a GP has a demonstrated impact on making at least one quit attempt and increased motivated to quit smoking. It will be interesting to see what impact Obama's doctors recommendation will have on his smoking status.

Jessica