A community view of smoking cessation counseling in the practices of physicians and dentists.

The practice norms of community physicians and dentists in the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania for counseling about smoking cessation were surveyed. In addition, 1,373 residents in the valley were interviewed by telephone about the smoking counseling behaviors of their dentists and physicians. These activities were conducted as part of the planning for an intervention by the Coalition for a Smoke-Free Valley, a coalition of 100 persons and organizations in the area. The survey response rate for 172 physicians was 77 percent, and for 103 dentists, it was 76 percent. More physicians than dentists advised patients to quit, counseled patients, provided materials, and helped the patient to set a quit date. However, there was a clear discrepancy between what physicians say they do and what smokers say they hear.