Abstract
Educational aims
-
To review the individual characteristics of smokers that may predict success in smoking cessation efforts; these can be of help in routine clinical consultation.
Summary Although smoking cessation is clearly beneficial, many smokers respond poorly to smoking cessation efforts, resulting in a rather disappointing overall success rate of long-term abstinence. The perceived lack of effectiveness of smoking cessation may well influence how physicians set their priorities with regard to an effective use of their consultation time. Negative beliefs and attitudes can be resolved by increasing the general understanding of the natural history of quitting, by making sensible use of smoking cessation services, and by being aware of the correct use of drugs for nicotine dependence, when prescribed. In particular, a better understanding of the predictors of success for smoking cessation can help physicians to identify smokers who stand a relatively good chance of quitting. The purpose of the present article is to review those predictors of smoking cessation that can be of help in routine clinical consultation.
- ©ERS 2008