Disease Prevention & Health Promotion Table 1–5.

Table 1–5. Common elements of supportive smoking treatments.

                                                        Component     and     Examples                                                        

Encouragement of the patient in the quit attempt  ---  Note that effective cessation treatments are now available.
Note that half the people who have ever smoked have now quit.
Communicate belief in the patient’s ability to quit.

Communication of caring and concern --- Ask how the patient feels about quitting. Directly express concern and a willingness to help.
Be open to the patient’s expression of fears of quitting, difficulties experienced, and ambivalent feelings.

Encouragement of the patient to talk about the quitting process --- Ask about:
Reasons that the patient wants to quit. 
Difficulties encountered while quitting.
 Success the patient has achieved. 
Concerns or worries about quitting.

Provision of basic information about smoking and successful quitting --- Inform the patient about:
The nature and time course of withdrawal.
The addictive nature of smoking.
The fact that any smoking (even a single puff) increases the likelihood of full relapse.