SMOKING CESSATION METHODS - RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HEALTH-PROFESSIONALS - ADVISORY GROUP OF THE EUROPEAN SCHOOL OF ONCOLOGY

Smoking is the leading preventable cause of death. Approximately 40% o f Europeans now smoke. Many smokers want to stop but do not make the a ttempt, and of those who try, most are unsuccessful. Primary care heal th providers can help their patients to stop by using brief behavioura l and pharmacological interventions. Specialised smoking cessation cli nics can support selected patients referred by primary care providers. This report reviews intervention techniques for health care providers , which, in combination with effective legislative and educational int erventions, can significantly reduce the prevalence of smoking.