National patterns in the treatment of smokers by physicians.

Abstract

CIGARETTE SMOKING is the single most important cause of death and disability in the United States.¹ Because an estimated 70% of smokers visit a physician each year, physicians have the opportunity to promote smoking cessation.² Brief physician counseling and the use of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) have been shown to increase the smoking cessation rates of patients.^3-5 The likelihood that a physician will counsel a smoker is increased by routine identification of a patient's smoking status in the medical record.^6,7