Staff involvement and special follow-up time increase physicians' counseling about smoking cessation: A controlled trial

Abstract

We compared the counseling behaviors of two groups of health maintenance organization physicians: one group received training about smoking cessation counseling; the other group received the same training plus staff support and appointment time specially designated for follow-up of smokers. We interviewed patients after their office visits to measure smoking counselling. The group receiving staff support and designated follow-up time counseled more and made more follow-up appointments about smoking.