USPSTF Recommendations on Interventions for Smoking Cessation

Target Audience: Primary care clinicians

Background

Approximately 18% of U.S. adults smoke tobacco, and tobacco remains the leading preventable cause of morbidity and mortality. The USPSTF has updated its 2009 recommendation on counseling and interventions to prevent tobacco use (NEJM JW Gen Med Jun 1 2009 and Ann Intern Med 2009; 150:447).

Key Recommendations

• Record a patient's smoking behavior as a vital sign.

• Use the 5 As:

  1. Ask about smoking.

  2. Advise patients to quit through personalized messages.

  3. Assess a patient's willingness to quit.

  4. Assist quitting.

  5. Arrange follow-up.

• Interventions for nonpregnant adults:

  • Convincing evidence shows that behavioral interventions (i.e., coun…