Promoting tobacco cessation and relapse prevention.

Although there is no single cure for tobacco dependence, there are numerous effective treatments for promoting cessation. Using the chronic disease model of advising and counseling, this article outlines a model for helping patients overcome tobacco dependence. This model consists of the five A's: Ask, Advise, Assess, Assist, and Arrange. Although most of this article focuses on how clinicians who are bound by time constraints can be effective in promoting tobacco cessation, key elements for more intensive interventions are briefly discussed and suggestions for dealing with the less motivated patient are offered.