Health
Federal guideline rounds up smoking cessation tools for doctors
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted May 26, 2008
Tobacco dependence is a chronic disease requiring repeated interventions and attempts to quit, but treatments exist to improve the chances of success, according to Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence: 2008 Update. The guideline was released in May by the U.S. Public Health Service.
"Smoking remains the most important preventable cause of death in our society," said AMA President Ron Davis, MD. "We may have to keep saying that unless and until we fully implement these guidelines and turn this around."
The AMA endorsed the document, which was officially released at the organization's Chicago headquarters.
For this third edition, a panel of 24 experts reviewed more than 8,700 research articles published since 1975 and found that effective strategies include counseling, alone or in conjunction with any of the seven smoking cessation medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
"We want to ensure that not a single patient leaves a health care visit without receiving evidence-based treatment," said Michael C. Fiore, MD, MPH, the guideline panel chair.
A commentary in the May 7 Journal of the American Medical Association co-authored by Dr. Fiore also urged clinicians to incorporate this guideline into practice.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/05/26/hlbf0526.htm.
