New Zealand smoking cessation guidelines

Abstract

Aims: To summarise the key recommendations made in the 2007 New Zealand Smoking Cessation Guidelines.

Methods: A comprehensive literature review of smoking cessation interventions was undertaken in November 2006. Recommendations were formulated from the findings of the literature review in line with the methods recommended by the New Zealand Guidelines Group.

Results: The Guidelines have been structured around a new memory aid (ABC) which incorporates and replaces the 5A's (ask, advise, assess, assist, arrange). ABC prompts healthcare professionals to ask about smoking status; give brief advice to stop smoking to all smokers; and provide evidence-based Cessation support for those who wish to stop smoking. Healthcare professionals should briefly advise all people who smoke to stop smoking, regardless of whether they say they are ready to stop smoking or not. They should then offer smoking cessation support which includes both behavioural (e.g. telephone and face-to-face support) and pharmacological (e.g. nicotine replacement therapy, nortriptyline, bupropion, or varenicline) interventions. Recommendations were also formulated for priority populations of smokers: Māori, Pacific, pregnant women, and people with mental illness and other addictions.

Conclusions: These guidelines will assist healthcare professionals in providing evidence-based smoking cessation support to people who smoke. To be effective, the ABC model needs to be integrated into routine practice.