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The Government has set a goal of a ‘smoke-free’ England by 2030 in a new health prevention Green Paper.

Patients with mental health conditions who are prescribed varenicline to quit smoking, are more likely to have quit at two-year follow-up compared to patients prescribed nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), reports a study published in Nicotine & Tobacco Research.

E-cigarettes have become increasingly popular in recent years. The main reason given by current vapers for using e-cigarettes is to help them stop smoking tobacco. This pragmatic article provides information on the safety and effectiveness of e-cigarettes as a stop smoking tool.

The exhaled carbon monoxide (CO) test detects exposure to CO in the last 12-18 hours. This can be used to assess smoking status AFTER a quit attempt and used prior to a quit attempt as a motivational tool.

New research suggests that e-cigarettes are more effective than nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) at helping smokers to quit but NRT works better in older people with tobacco dependency.

Primary healthcare professionals can play a key role in improving survival from lung cancer by treating tobacco dependency earlier, raising awareness of symptoms, collecting data accurately and encouraging reluctant patients to present.

Today is World NoTobacco Day. This annual campaign, run by the World Health Organisation, is an opportunity to raise awareness of the harmful and deadly effects of tobacco use and second hand smoke exposure.

Q: My patient smokes cigarettes and has a BMI of 43, they drink 45 units of alcohol a week and their physical activity is limited. What should I do first or is it better to tackle all together?

Primary care clinicians are reminded that important changes to respiratory QOF indicators introduced by the new GP contract become effective from April 1. The changes are:

Tobacco dependency support is declining in GP practices and pharmacies and only half of local authorities now offer universal specialist stop smoking services.

An overloaded health system, lack of smoking cessation services and insufficient training are preventing primary care practitioners from using evidence based interventions to help patients to quit smoking.