Abstract
Hospitalization has been shown to be an ideal time to provide smoking-cessation counseling to patients. Many smokers stop on their own when hospitalized, and studies have shown that if smoking-cessation counseling is provided to interested patients during their hospitalization, a significant increase in the long-term cessation rate can be achieved. We base our Point of View on the results of a review of the literature on smoking cessation for hospital patients and a feasibility test in which counseling was provided by respiratory care practitioners (RCP) in 2 medium-sized hospitals. Elements of the intervention program included assessment of readiness to quit smoking (stage of change), a 20-minute bedside counseling session tailored to the patient's stage of change, a 10-minute videotape, a variety of written materials, and a follow-up phone call 1 to 3 weeks after the patient was discharged. Patient acceptance of the respiratory care counselors was high. Of the first 396 patients asked if they would be willing to meet with a smoking counselor, only 3% declined to be seen. Of those patients who were seen, 77% expressed a strong interest in quitting, 55% resolved to not smoke again, and 42% reported abstinence from tobacco at a follow-up interview 1 to 3 weeks after leaving the hospital. These encouraging short-term results demonstrate the feasibility of having RCPs deliver smoking-cessation counseling to hospitalized smokers. [Respir Care 1996; 41(11):1026-1029]
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