75. For the Patient Who Has Recently Quit
Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence: 2008 Update
Intervening with the patient who has recently quit
The former tobacco user should receive congratulations on any success and strong encouragement to remain abstinent. When encountering a recent quitter, use open-ended questions relevant to the topics below to discover if the patient wishes to discuss issues related to quitting:
- The benefits, including potential health benefits, the patient may derive from cessation.
- Any success the patient has had in quitting (duration of abstinence, reduction in withdrawal, etc.).
- The problems encountered or anticipated threats to maintaining abstinence (e.g., depression, weight gain, alcohol, other tobacco users in the household, significant stressors).
- A medication check-in, including effectiveness and side effects if the patient is still taking medication.