Provide Social Support

Provide Social Support

Description: 
A supportive clinical environment is effective in helping patients quit smoking. Encouragement and support from clinical staff is crucial. This resource details supportive treatment and examples.

A supportive clinical environment is effective in helping patients quit smoking. Encouragement and support from clinical staff is crucial.


Supportive Treatment Examples

Communicate caring and concern
  • Directly express concern and willingness to help the patient as often as needed
  • Discuss fears and ambivalence and difficulties related to quitting
  • Ask the patient how he or she feels about quitting -- is he or she scared, confident, etc.

Encourage the patient
  • Discuss effective tobacco treatments
  • Communicate your belief in the patient's ability to quit
  • Emphasize that quitting can be successful -- half of all people who have ever smoked have quit

Encourage the patient to talk about the quitting process
 		Discuss the following:

  • Reasons why he or she wants to quit
  • Concerns or worries about quitting
  • Success the patient has achieved
  • Difficulties while quitting

(Adapted from Fiore et al. 2008)

Reference:

Fiore MC, Jaen CR, Baker TB, et al. Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence: 2008 Update. Clinical Practice Guideline. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Public Health Service. May 2008.

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