Approaches to Smoking Cessation

Smoking cessation is a critical public health issue. Smoking cessation techniques are essential in reducing the burden of tobacco-related diseases and deaths. Medical practitioners have the potential to assist patients in quitting smoking, but deficits exist in the amount and type of training received in smoking cessation counseling.

Smoking cessation is not a single event but a process that involves a change in a person's lifestyle, values, social circles, thinking and feeling patterns, and coping skills. Overcoming the hurdles associated with smoking cessation can increase an individual's self-efficacy in their ability to succeed at their quit attempt, which in turn acts to reduce the likelihood of a relapse and increase the likelihood of long-term sustained smoking cessation. Innovative techniques of treatment are necessary to provide effective smoking cessation intervention, especially for difficult cases.

The use of pharmacotherapy, including nicotine replacement therapy and other medications, is an effective smoking cessation technique. Behavioral therapy is also a useful approach, including motivational interviewing, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and contingency management. The combination of pharmacotherapy and behavioral therapy can enhance the success rate of smoking cessation.