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]
In Kansas City smoking is to be banned in cigar stores and smoke shops, there is one man who is trying to fight this amendment. According to him, "We need a place where smoking is permitted and children are not."
Kendall Culbertson is the owner of the Outlaw Cigar Co., a cigar shop, he said "Kansas City voters have declared their preference for a smoking ban in most public places but, in drafting the law, anti-smoking forces failed to exempt obvious locations like cigar shops and smoking clubs."
Culbertson feels that these omissions were simply a mistake and he hopes that some exemptions will be made by the voters, who are voting for the smoking ban in April.
"I believe it is illogical that casinos can allow smoking while their primary business is gambling, but cigar stores like mine can't permit smoking even though our primary business revolves around our customers being able to enjoy premium, handmade cigars in our 800 sq. ft. smoking lounge."
This is definitely a valid point that has probably been overlooked in many places and if the U.S. is a democratic and free country each person should have to do what they please in the areas designated for it.
