The adoption of tobacco dependence treatment by rehabilitation clinicians

Abstract

Purpose: Individuals with disabilities tend to smoke at rates that surpass those of the general population. The Pubic Health Service Guideline on the treatment of tobacco dependence suggests that all smokers be screened at every health care visit and counselled regarding how best to quit smoking. We review the literature on the adoption of tobacco dependence treatment by rehabilitation clinicians working with disabled individuals. Despite the deleterious health effects of smoking on individuals with disabilities, the limited data suggests that rehabilitation clinicians rarely encourage their clients who smoke to quit.

Method: Studies were collected using various computerized databases from 1980 to the present. Because of the paucity of literature on tobacco dependence treatment utilization among rehabilitation clinicians, we also examine research on the use of tobacco dependence treatment by health care providers in the general population and in substance abuse treatment settings.

Results: Despite the efficacy of tobacco dependence treatment in smokers with disabilities, tobacco dependence treatment appears to be underutilized by rehabilitation clinicians.

Conclusions: Interventions that have successfully increased adoption by the two other clinician groups should be utilized to increase tobacco dependence treatment provision by rehabilitation clinicians. Additional research is warranted to determine how to overcome obstacles to adoption.