ASSIST your patient
Encourage the patient to set a 'quit' date - the advice is to stop completely on that date.
Ask the patient to enlist help from family and friends.
Give the patient information in the form of the Health Scotland magazine Aspire to Stop Smoking or similar literature from local Health Promotion Departments, or from ASH.
If appropriate, give the patients advice on Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) which is known to double the success rate of those trying to give up. The most commonly available forms of NRT are nicotine gum and patches. In many areas, there are pharmacy smoking cessation initiatives where patients can be referred directly to pharmacies for supplies of NRT and ongoing support. (more info on NRT).
Give the patient information about Smokeline 0800 84 84 84.
'What would be a good day for you to give up…?'
'Did anything particularly help you when you tried before…?'
'When do you feel it is most difficult to resist a cigarette…?'
'Do you think that Nicotine Replacement Therapy might help…?'