The Best Ways to Help a Smoker Quit
In this video today, we’d like to go over the guidelines that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services have provided to assist people to help them stop smoking. The following guidelines to help smokers quit have been established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The first guideline is anytime a smoker -any time actually any patient- comes into a doctor’s office the guideline says ask each one, “Do you smoke?” If so, record the status and ask them every time they come in. Next visit, “Are you still a smoker?’ And record the status, yes or no.
Regular Assessment
You’re asking about it each time they come in, and you’re recording it. The second guideline is, if they say yes if they’re a smoker then part of the visit ought to be spent at least talking with the person about why they should stop smoking and give them the health reasons for it. Not only the detrimental effects on their health but the positive effects, the benefits to their health if they don’t smoke. Both the pros and the cons, the pluses and minuses, the benefits and all that to advise them so that they would stop smoking. Then after you’ve recorded it, and given them the information, talk to them about that, you need to ask specifically “Are you willing to quit?” If they say no, then provide support and continue giving them information. “Hey read this. Think about it.
We’ll talk about it next time.” However, if they say, “I am willing, you’ve convinced me. I’ve noticed the damage to my health. I want to stop, I want the help to stop smoking.” If that’s the case, then you need to provide resources for them to get them the help that they need in order that they might truly quit. Among those resources then are first set a plan. You know the old adage it’s silly, but it makes sense, “If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail.” If they’ve said, “Yes I’m willing” then say “Good, we are we’re going to talk to you about a plan and put that in effect and get you the help to see that plan through so that you’ll be more successful in quitting.” Some people have the internal gumption, the strength of will that they just quit cold turkey and that’s it.
Creating a Successful Quitting Plan
Most people are going to need help. Part of assisting them with that help is setting up a plane and the first step in the plan is to set a date when they’re going to begin to stop smoking. Here’s the date. And you try to make that date within two weeks of the time of that appointment. Don’t let it go any further out than that because if you do, chances are that they won’t remember it they won’t keep it.Within two weeks of the date that you’re talking and say, That’s the date that you agree you’re going to stop smoking.” First thing you do is you set a date. Second, on that date make sure all cigarettes are removed. That there are no cigarettes within their ability to get to. Having them around is too much of a temptation.
Talk to them about some of their places of where they like to smoke, where they’re going to be more tempted to smoke, after a meal, when they drink, things like this. Make that connection for them so that they realize, “Hey it’s going to be worse for you not during the day but maybe at times of boredom or times that you’re used to smoking after a meal or while drinking.” Remove the cigarettes set a date, remove cigarettes, talk to them about some of the challenges that they’re going to have, and then enlist the help of family and friends. It’s critical that you get a support group around the person who will cheer them on, who will help keep them strong when they want to be weak. If they really want to quit, having the help of friends and family who will assist them in that is critical.
You’ve made a plan, set a date, removed the cigarettes, enlist the help of family friends, you anticipate the challenges by talking to them about what they can expect times when they’re going to be most tempted to want to go back to smoke. Then finally, to help them out you might suggest some prescription medications. Things like the patch, gum, lozenges, things that have nicotine in them in order to assist them with the nicotine cravings. I mean they’re addicted to a substance you’re trying to wean them off of that substance. Sometimes a stepdown program where that substances gradually removed from their system can be beneficial. All right. These are the guidelines from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to help smokers quit.
When they come in, you asked them whether or not they smoke, you record the status, you advise them that they ought to quit and provide the health reasons. If they are willing to quit you provide resources, you give them a plan, set a date, remove the cigarettes, enlist the help of family and friends, let them know the anticipated challenges, and then perhaps recommend the patch, gum, lozenges, a prescription to help them with nicotine withdrawal.