We all know that smokers should just quit. And when you're sitting there awaiting the results of your lung scan it's really easy to swear that you're never going to have another cigarette again as long as those results come back clean. But good intentions aren't all that you need to to quit smoking. In fact, evidence suggests that some smokers need even more intervention from their doctors than they are currently getting.
The research study showed that patients who receive serious intervention for terminating their smoking tend to have a high likelihood of successfully quitting the habit. However, it is also indicated that most doctors take only minor steps (inquiring about smoking use and offering resources) to insure that their patients are ending their smoking. As a result, most patients who need preventive assistance for kicking the smoking habit and avoiding lung cancer need some more intensive help.
Of course, it's not up to preventive health doctors to make sure that their patients stop smoking. But this evidence suggests that doctors performing lung scans could be effective in preventing lung disease if they opt to go the extra mile in the case against smoking. After all, when are you going to be more receptive to advise about quitting smoking than when you're in the doctor's office awaiting those lung scan results?
Question of the Day: What role should preventive health doctors play in preventing lung disease?
