The availability of smoking cessation advice from health professionals--a census from one East London District.

A survey of 382 hospital inpatients and a survey of 500 adults attending a GP open access chest X-ray service showed that 18% and 25% respectively were current smokers. Sixty per cent of the inpatient smokers and three quarters of the community smokers expressed a wish to stop smoking, and 44% of the inpatient smokers and 62% of the community smokers reported having received advice from their primary care physician to stop smoking. However, when the community smokers were asked about more specific advice they had received to help them stop smoking, only 13% had received advice regarding nicotine replacement therapies and under 5% had been given the telephone number of a smoking cessation support service (Smokers Quitline). Use of nicotine replacement therapies nearly doubles the success rate for smoking cessation, and it is essential for all health professionals to be able to give specific advice as to how smokers may be able to quit.