And it's really tough to quit doing. No single method for quitting fits all tobacco users. Because they have just had a smoking-related health crisis, they are more receptive to the idea of changing their smoking habits. Inpatients referred to the program receive a smoking history form and information packet. A smoking interventionist then offers to talk with them about their habit.
Smoking is very dear and personal to people.
So we are empathetic and ask if they are ready to stop smoking. We accept where they're at, but tell them that because we care about their health, we want to help them stop smoking. Key to the program's success is follow-up calls to patients two weeks, three months, and a year after hospitalization. We turn the call into a motivational session and help them pick a new quit date. Data indicate that patients who were in the program are more likely to still be smoke-free three and 12 months later than similar inpatient populations elsewhere in the nation.