[Smoking cessation. A physician's responsibility]

Abstract

Giving up smoking is a cost-effective measure in the secondary prevention of chronic arterial disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The involvement of the physician in the primary prevention of smoking and kicking the habit in the case of tobacco-related disease, must receive greater emphasis than has so far been the case in Germany. Weaning smokers suffering from tobacco-related disease from their habit is a task for the physician, and may take the form either of a single minimal intervention, or successive consultations that can be integrated in every medical activity. The concept of stepwise smoking dishabituation is supported by evidence-based consensus recommendations on the part of relevant national and international medical societies and public institutions.