A U.S. study says there are very few doctors who have proper training to aid their patients in quitting smoking.
The study found that nearly 90% of doctors have only gotten about 5 hours of training on tobacco dependence. Less than 6% percent are aware of the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality treatment guidelines (AHRQ), which include the signs of nicotine withdrawal.
Due to this lack of knowledge quit smoking rates are lower, suggests lead researcher Virginia Reichert. "Without appropriate training in tobacco dependence treatment, health-care providers may lack the knowledge and confidence to help their patients quit smoking. Furthermore, providers may not recognize that tobacco dependence is a chronic relapsing condition and become frustrated when patients do not quit when advised to do so," said Reichert in an ACCP news release.
This is fairly disturbing news, especially due to economic and social reasons many smokers are trying to quit, but without adequate help they will not be able to do so…
[Via: Washington Post]
