Smoking Counseling - University of Arkansas Medical Sciences

Heart Failure - Counseling to Stop Smoking

Smoking is a modifiable risk factor for heart disease. National guidelines strongly recommend smoking counseling to help persons with heart disease to quit smoking. (National Cancer Institute (NCI) Prevention and Cessation of Cigarette Smoking: Control of Tobacco Use). Tobacco Cessation Guidelines from the United States Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) provide helpful tips on smoking cessation for patients.

The most recent report (4^th qtr., 2009) shows 100% of eligible heart failure patients at UAMS received referrals for smoking cessation counseling prior to discharge, compared with a national average of 93% and the average for the University Healthsystem Consortium of 100%.