MISSED OPPORTUNITIES FOR PREVENTION - SMOKING CESSATION COUNSELING AND THE COMPETING DEMANDS OF PRACTICE

BACKGROUND. Smoking cessation advice is an effective intervention for the control of tobacco use. The objective of this study was to assess and describe the rates of smoking status assessment and smoking cessat ion advice provided by physicians during ambulatory office visits with respect to physician specialty, type of visit, and number of problems addressed at the visit. METHODS. We used a cross-sectional survey of patient visits to the offices of nonfederally employed, office-based p hysicians participating in the 1992 National Ambulatory Medical Care S urvey (n=1558). RESULTS. Physicians reported knowing the smoking statu s of their patients in 66% of outpatient visits. The rate of assessmen t was similar for generalists and specialists. Cardiologists and gener alists, except for pediatricians, showed discernible rates of smoking cessation advice (medians ranging from 14% 50%), whereas obstetrician/ gynecologists and other specialists had negligible rates. For tobacco- related visits, generalists and specialists had comparable rates of ce ssation advice to identified smokers. For non-tobacco-related visits, generalists had higher rates than specialists (22% vs 10%; P <.001). C ONCLUSIONS. Although a substantial majority of smokers are reportedly identified by physicians during ambulatory visits, a large number of i dentified smokers are not receiving smoking cessation counseling. Pati ents seen by generalists are more likely to receive smoking cessation advice. Physicians appear to prioritize smoking cessation advice based on diagnosis at the time of the visit.