As a result, an epidemic of cancer continues in this country, blunting the dramatic improvements that have resulted from advances in other areas such as early detection and treatment. One important way to control the epidemic of tobacco-related cancers would be to improve the frequency and effectiveness of smoking interventions by physicians. Physicians are uniquely positioned to aid people who smoke, most of whom want to quit. Smokers have reported that their physician's advice was an important factor in their decision to quit smoking.
Physician counseling is an important element in many smoking-cessation strategies.
A brief and simple message from physician to patient can be effective in changing smoking behavior. While physical withdrawal, which week and is gone within a month, the psychological desire or craving may linger on for months or years. While nicotine patches avoid some of the discomforts of nicotine chewing gum itching or burning, or less often a rash, inflammation and occasional allergic reactions. Patching up smokers. Over half had reported a quit attempt within the 6 months preceding the Teenage Attitudes and Practices Survey, a National Center for Health Statistic survey of adolescents about their use of tobacco.