The impact of smoking-cessation intervention by multiple health professionals

Background: Smokers have contact with many different types of health professionals. The impact of tobacco intervention by multiple types of heath professionals is not known. Methods and Materials: As part of the 2003 Minnesota Adult Tobacco Survey, smokers (n= 1723) reported on tobacco treatment by medical doctors, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, or other health professionals. This analysis examined: (1) smokers' report of tobacco intervention by different types of healthcare providers, (2) the proportion of smokers who report intervention by multiple provider types, and (3) the relationship between smokers' report of intervention by multiple provider types and readiness to quit, quit attempts, and recent quitting. Results: Among past-year smokers, 65% had visits with two or more types of health professionals. Among smokers who visited health professionals (n= 1523), only 34% reported being asked about smoking by two or more types of professionals. Among current smokers (n=1324), advice or assistance from more than one type of professional was uncommon (26% and 7%, respectively). Being asked about smoking by two or more types of professionals substantially increased the odds of recent quitting (OR=2.37; 95% CI=1.15-4.88). Among current smokers, being advised to quit by two or more types of professionals increased the odds of having made a quit attempt in the past year (OR=2.92; 95% CI=1.56-5.45) or intending to quit in the next 6 months (OR=2.17; 95% CI=1.10-4.29). Conclusions: Smoking-cessation interventions by more than one type of health professional have the potential to substantially increase quitting and readiness to quit in the population.