Smoking cessation
Smoking cessation intervention
(Very brief advice)
Dentists and dental care professionals have a unique opportunity to address smoking with patients due to the large proportion of the population that visit for regular check-ups, including key groups such as teenagers and those who are pregnant. Very Brief Advice (VBA) is a simple intervention that is designed to be used opportunistically in less than 30 seconds in almost any situation with a smoker.
The VBA intervention is comprised of three elements: establishing and recording smoking status (ASK), advising on how to stop (ADVISE) and offering help (ACT). It is important to keep giving advice at every opportunity, as smokers may take several attempts to stop smoking successfully. Additionally, referring a patient to a local stop smoking service also increases their chances of a successful quit attempt.
(Adapted from the National Centre for Smoking Cessation and Training guidance on delivering Very Brief Advice on Smoking for Dental Patients.)
Quit Your Way is Scotland’s national smoking cessation service. It offers telephone and online help and is able to directly refer people to local cessation services delivered by Health Boards.
Ask and record smoking status:
"Do you smoke?"
Advise on the most effective way of quitting:
"Did you know that the best way of stopping smoking is with a combination of medication and specialist support? If you are interested I can refer you to our local friendly stop smoking service that many of my patients have found useful?"
Act on patient's response:
Interested - refer to local stop smoking service:
- Give information
- Prescribe medication and refer to local stop smoking service
Patients are four times more likely to quit with support
Not interested - reassess at future visits:
"Its your choice of course. Help will always be available. Do let me know if you change your mind"