Physicians' advice to quit smoking - The glass remains half empty

BACKGROUND We explored the relationships between advice from a physician to quit smoking and an array of respondents' characteristics, including socio demographic factors, health status, health insurance status, physician cont inuity, and intensity of smoking. METHODS We examined data from the nationally representative 1996-1997 Commu nity Tracking Study Household Survey. We used multivariate logistic regress ion to model receipt of cessation advice in a sample of 8229 smokers aged 1 8 years and older who made at least one visit to a physician in the past ye ar. RESULTS Less than 50% of the subjects report ed receiving cessation advice. Advice was less likely for patients who were younger men, African American , uninsured, healthier, lower health care services users, or lighter smoker s, and more likely for those with military health insurance, who attended h ospital outpatient clinics, or who belonged to health maintenance organizat ions. CONCLUSIONS Physicians continue to miss opportunities to provide smoking ce ssation advice, a potentially lifesaving intervention. Given the adverse he alth consequences of tobacco use and the demonstrated benefit of advice to quit, physicians need to improve their cessation counseling efforts.