Health

Task force renews tobacco-cessation recommendations

NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted May 4, 2009

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The benefits of screening for tobacco use and providing cessation assistance as appropriate are "well established," and physicians are strongly encouraged to continue doing so, according to a U.S. Preventive Services Task Force statement published April 21 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

The USPSTF, an independent expert panel organized by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, last issued a statement on this subject in 2003 concluding that the benefits of asking those older than 18 about tobacco use and providing cessation help to those who use this substance outweighed the risks. The finding also was true for those of any age who were pregnant. Counseling tailored to this particular situation was strongly recommended.

For the latest recommendation, task force members reviewed evidence gathered for the 2008 U.S Public Health Service's smoking cessation clinical guideline.

Physicians should ask patients if they smoke, provide advice that quitting is a good idea and assess willingness to do so. Cessation help, along with follow-up support, also should be arranged. Telephone quit lines and prescription medication may make it more likely that patients will give up tobacco, although evidence was insufficient to recommend any drugs for use during pregnancy.

Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/05/04/hlbf0504.htm.

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