This multifaceted approach has yielded enormously positive results, said Ken August, spokesman for the California Department of Health Services. About 18 percent of California adults smoke, the lowest rate in the country next to Utah, August said. As a result of the decrease in smoking, an estimated 3,000 to 4,000 fewer lung cancer cases and 2,000 fewer deaths occurred last year in the state, August said. We re really just beginning to witness the full health benefits of the campaign. In comparison, the estimated drop nationwide was only 2.7 percent.
Nurses are able to make tremendous headway because they are so trusted.
Many nurses are motivated to participate in smoking cessation and prevention initiatives because they witness the devastation tobacco causes their patients, she said. However, the nursing profession could be doing even more to spread the anti-tobacco message, Sarna said. Some nurses still don t recognize the link between use of tobacco products and associated symptoms, or don t feel equipped to address tobacco addiction with patients, Sarna said. An updated set of smoking cessation clinical practice guidelines released by federal health officials last year can assist nurses who aren t sure how to address the issue, she said. The road ahead California continues to be a leader in the battle against tobacco.