Nurses' advice raises smokers' chances of kicking the butt

Washington, Jan 23 : A new systematic review has found that nurses' advice can boosts smokers' chances of giving up cigarettes.

The findings are based on an analysis of 31 clinical studies, comprising 12,000 adult smokers, which showed smokers offered advice by nurses have an increased likelihood of quitting as compared to smokers without such intervention.

Virginia Hill Rice, a professor at Wayne State University College of Nursing and lead review author, said that even though nurses already have heavy workloads, helping smokers stop is an important responsibility.

"Smoking is fuelling so many health problems. In the long run [nurses] can reduce their workload by an investment upfront," Rice said.

Studies included at least two groups of patients: one that received advice from nurses and another that did not.

Rice found that among those given no intervention, less than 3 percent were able to quit. Among those given strategies to quit by nurses, 15 percent to 20 percent were successful.

The researchers conclude that the results of the analysis 'support a modest but positive effect for smoking cessation intervention by nursing.'

The review appears in the current issue of The Cochrane Library.

ANI