Many Patients With Mental Health Conditions Want to Quit Smoking

A recent study found that patients in community mental health centers wanted to cease or reduce smoking, but providers assumed patients had low interested in quitting.

Researchers collected data from 231 patients, and 142 provides (45 psychiatrists and 97 case workers) in 4 Community Mental Health Centers to assess attitudes towards smoking cessation interest and treatment.
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They found that 82% of smokers reported an interest in quitting or reducing smoking, 50% were interested in using electronic cigarettes to quit smoking, and 22% were using electronic cigarettes to stop.

Conversely, 91% of psychiatrists and 84% of case work reported that patients were not interested in quitting smoking and cited it as the leading barrier to smoking cessation. “Providers’ assumption of low patient interest in treatment may account for the low rate of smoking cessation treatment,” the researchers stated.

The study illustrates the need for assessments to determine whether a patient is interested in smoking cessation treatment, and to determine the best intervention for the patient.

—Melissa Weiss

Reference:

Chen LS, Baker T, Brownson RC, et al. Smoking cessation and electronic cigarettes in community mental health centers: patient and provider perspectives [published online November 30, 2016]. Community Mental Health Journal. doi:10.1007/s10597-016-0065-8.