A comprehensive study of health care professionals in the US – including primary care and emergency medicine physicians, nurses and dentists – found that many are not following the national guidelines for working with patients who use tobacco products. The researchers, out of the University of California Davis, cite a number of reasons why the national protocol is not being followed, including perceptions of patient beliefs about cessation, a lack of training in smoking cessation interventions, and a view that it is outside their area of responsibility. The researchers report that, since the role of health care professionals is critical in smoking cessation, they need to do better at following the protocol, which includes the “5 A’s” – asking, advising, assessing, assisting, and arranging follow-up.

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Physorg.com