Provision of social support as part of treatment

Intra-treatment social support

Encourage your patients in their quit attempts. Let them know that:

• Effective tobacco dependence treatments are now available.
• Half of all the people who have ever smoked have now quit.

Communicate your belief in your patient's ability to quit.

• Ask how your patient feels about quitting.
• Directly express concern and willingness to help.
• Be open to expressions of fears of quitting, difficulties experienced and ambivalent feelings.

Encourage your patient to talk about the quitting process. Ask about the:

• Reasons the patient wants to quit.
• Concerns or worries about quitting.
• Success the patient has achieved.
• Difficulties encountered while quitting.

Extra-treatment social support: Help in securing social support outside of treatment

Train your patient to ask for support from family, friends, and co-workers.

• Help patients to identify others who will be supportive.
• Prompt support seeking:
  • Call patients to remind them to seek support.
  • Assign patients to be "buddies" for one another.
  • Inform patients of resources such as QuitlineNC.
• Aid your patients in establishing a smoke-free home.