Empowering the Cardiologist in the Smoking Cessation Effort

Statement of Need: 
Although cardiology patients who smoke need to quit to improve their health,  many cardiologists are unfamiliar with current smoking cessation guidelines, lack confidence in their ability to provide adequate smoking cessation counseling, and are frustrated by patients’ failed quit attempts. This activity will enable cardiologists to incorporate smoking cessation guidelines into existing ACC guidelines using a chronic disease model and presenting effective techniques for assessing patients’ readiness to quit, motivating patients who may be reluctant to quit, supporting patients through what may be multiple quit attempts, and helping those who successfully quit to remain smoke-free. This activity will thus address the ACGME core competencies of patient care, medical knowledge, practice-based learning, and interpersonal communication skills, as well as the IOM competencies to provide patient-centered care, work in interdisciplinary teams,  and employ evidence-based practice. 

Target Audience: 
This activity is designed for cardiologists, nurses, nurse practitioners and other healthcare professionals interested in reducing smoking-related mortality and morbidity using smoking cessation programs based on the Clinical Practice Guideline: Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence 2008 Update.

Learning Objectives: 
After completing this self-study module, learners should be able to:
 Summarize the evidence for increased cardiovascular disease risk in patients who smoke
 Apply proven strategies from the Clinical Practice Guideline: Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence 2008 Update to assess patients’ willingness to make a quit attempt and motivate patients in efforts to quit smoking
 Integrate appropriate smoking cessation interventions within the cardiovascular clinical practice utilizing the full clinical team to provide patients with a comprehensive approach to smoking cessation as part of their cardiac care
 Use a chronic disease model to formulate a management plan for smoking cessation within the cardiovascular clinical system.