Assessing the extent to which healthcare workers advised and assisted smokers to quit based on patient motivation levels.

Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. Although healthcare workers play a key role in helping patients quit smoking, the degree to which they provide help varies. This study assesses the extent to which smokers report that their healthcare worker advised and assisted them with quitting based on their level of readiness to make a change. The 2006 Hawaii Adult Tobacco Survey asked questions regarding smoking status and if advice and assistance with quitting was given from a healthcare worker. Percentages for reporting healthcare worker's advice and assistance were compared among the three levels of motivational readiness using the chi-square test of association for 331 current, everyday smokers (56% women; 38% in the age group of 45-54 years). Most smokers are given advice to quit smoking. However, only about half of those motivated to quit are given assistance to do so. Most smokers across all motivation levels received advice to quit smoking with no significant difference between levels of readiness to quit. Less than half of smokers received any type of assistance with quitting smoking, with higher motivated smokers significantly receiving more assistance with cessation medication or nicotine replacement therapy and setting a quit date. This is a call to action for healthcare workers to address smoking with every patient. Adjustments to protocols for addressing smoking cessation and readiness to quit may be warranted.