Unable to quit smoking? Go talk to a nurse!

Zee Media Bureau

New York: Many smokers who want to quit the habit often complain of their inability to do so. They say they want to quit, but their habit is so deep-rooted, that they find it hard to give up.

Of course, there are many ways in which can aid you in kicking the habit like, nicotine patches, chewing gums, inhalers, sprays, replacement therapies, et al, but they don't always work.

However, a study has an interesting suggestion for those who want to kick the butt – a conversation with a trained nurse!

Yes, it may sound strange, but that's what the researchers found helpful, when they looked at the quit rates of 1,528 patients, who were discharged from the hospital after six months.

The research shows that self-reported quit rates increased when nurses and other staff members were trained to coach patients on how to stop smoking.

“Hospitalisation is the perfect time to help people quit. They are more motivated and nurses can explain how smoking harms their health, including slowing healing,” said Sonia Duffy, Professor at The Ohio State University in the study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

According to the study, many smokers, even those who plan to quit, start smoking the minute they leave the hospital. Getting them started with a quitting plan while they are admitted to hospitals boosts their chances of success.

“I hope hospital administrators will look beyond telephone quit lines to help people. Nurses have the greatest access to patients, they have relationships with patients and they can relate the benefits of quitting to the patient’s medical condition,” Duffy added.

(With IANS inputs)