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Psychologists and smoking cessation
intervention: unrealised potential
Jenny Bowman, Associate Professor, School of Psychology,
University of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
Abstract
Introduction:
Despite evident potential to provide smoking cessation care, US research has found that psychologists are unlikely to do so. This study examined the smoking cessation care provided by Australian psychologists, and also investigated potential barriers to care provision.
Methods:
A survey was administered to psychologists in one region of NSW Australia, recruited from members of the Australian Psychological Society and the local area health service.
Results:
The survey was completed by 72 psychologists.
Few reported receiving any formal training in smoking cessation. Less than half indicated assessing the smoking status of ‘all or nearly all’ of their clients, and 25% reporting doing so with ‘none or almost none’. Reported levels of intervention, including referral for smoking care, were very low. Respondents rated the likelihood of detecting smoking, and their role to intervene, confidence to do so and likelihood of intervening as lower for smoking than for several other health risk behaviours. Key barriers included a concern about negatively impacting the therapeutic relationship, as well as lack of time, training and confidence to intervene.
Conclusions:
Australian psychologists do not generally provide smoking cessation care. Redressing this situation will require some of the barriers identified to be addressed.
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About the presenter
Jenny Bowman is an Associate Professor in the School of Psychology at the University of Newcastle. Her multidisciplinary, applied research involves investigating the behavioural and structural determinants of health, and the evaluation of intervention strategies designed to address them. An enduring concern lies with reducing the harm arising from tobacco smoking for high risk and vulnerable groups such as people with substance use or mental health problems. She is a registered psychologist, a member of the Australian Psychological Society and the College of Health Psychologists, and is currently serving as President of the Australasian Society for Behavioural Health and Medicine.
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