This is your greatest opportunity to save lives

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The 5 A's

Tips on Assisting Your Patients to Quit Smoking Successfully

The US DHHS Public Health Service Clinical Practice Guideline* recommends five major steps for intervention in the primary care setting to help patients to quit smoking.

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Ask

Ask every patient at every visit "Do you smoke?" Document tobacco use status along with vital signs. MORE

Advise

In a clear, strong, and personalized manner, urge every tobacco user to quit. Tailor your advice to the patient’s clinical situation. MORE

Assess

Is the smoker willing to make a quit attempt at this time? Patients not ready to quit may need additional motivational counseling, such as the "5 R's". MORE

Assist

For the patient willing to make a quit attempt, use counseling and pharmacotherapy to help him or her quit. Use the Fax to Quit referral form to connect patients with counseling and other support provided by the NY State Smokers' Quitline 1-866-NY-QUITS (1-866-697-8487). MORE

Arrange

Schedule follow-up contact, in person or by telephone, preferably within the first week after the quit date. MORE

 

 

 

 

*This information is drawn directly from the U.S. DHHS Public Health Guideline for Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence, June 2000.