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How to engage GPs in smoking cessation
Hayden McRobbie and Alex Bobak
Abstract
General Practitioners (GPs) are the major source of referral of smokers to the NHS stop smoking service, and we know that advice to stop smoking form a GP increases the chances of success, most likely by prompting quit attempts. Also most smokers expect their GP to raise and discuss the issue of smoking with them. But on the other hand GPs typically refer only a fraction of their smokers to the stop smoking services and often give poor advice on the best ways to stop smoking. This may be because GPs do not feel they have the time or training to deliver smoking cessation themselves, have a limited understanding of the stop smoking services, believe smoking cessation is ineffective or they fear damaging their doctor-patient relationship. There is significant scope for improvement and this session will discuss the reasons that GPs do not engage more fully in smoking cessation and will offer practical suggestions as to how to overcome this problem so that referrals to local stop smoking services can be increased.
Biographies
Dr Hayden McRobbie is a Research Fellow at the Clinical Trials Research Unit, University of Auckland, New Zealand where he specialises in smoking cessation research and treatment. He studied medicine at the University of Otago and after a several years in clinical medicine he moved to London to work with Professor Peter Hajek. He worked on a large number of projects and clinical trails looking at ways to help people stop smoking, as well pharmacological and behavioural methods that alleviate the symptoms of tobacco withdrawal. In New Zealand Hayden continues his research into treatment to help people stop smoking and retains close links with the UK where he is a Visiting Lecturer at Barts and The London, Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry, and Programme Director of the UK National Smoking Cessation Conference.
Hayden McRobbie
Research Fellow
Clinical Trials Research Unit
The University of Auckland
Auckland
92019
New Zealand
Dr Alex Bobak is managing partner of a 5 Doctor, 4 Nurse, 1 Heathcare Assistant General Practice in Wandsworth, South London. He has also been running specialist smoking cessation clinics as a GP for several years and is the first GP with Special Interests (GPSI) in Smoking Cessation in the country.
Working on a chest ward as a junior doctor led him to become a passionate campaigner on the dangers of smoking. In 2001 Dr Bobak helped set up SCAPE (Smoking Cessation Action in Primary carE). He believes that helping smokers to stop is a most important part of Primary Care and is a regular speaker on smoking cessation at meetings throughout the UK.
As well as being a resident doctor on Sky News since 1997, he regularly contributes on medical matters to TV, radio and the print media.
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